Midwives attending home births have won a reprieve that allows them to practise legally without indemnity insurance until 2012.

The decision comes after the medical indemnity insurance industry challenged the Federal Government’s refusal to fund indemnity insurance for midwives.

The reprieve announcement by Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon came just before a demonstration last week by thousands of people at Parliament House in Canberra calling for greater home birthing rights. While protesters were pleased by the news, they say it’s not enough.

“There will be a number of conditions and requirements attached to that exemption, which include that a home birthing midwife must disclose to a mother who is interested in having a home birth that they will not be insured for that procedure,” Ms Roxon said.

She says the Federal Government’s maternity services review process does not recommend that public funding should be provided for home birthing.