CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Mr LLEW O'BRIEN (Wide Bay) (09:54): I congratulate the Gympie Beef Group for hosting the 2026 Gympie Carcass Classic, which recently celebrated its 39th year of supporting beef producers and industry professionals across Wide Bay. The event brings together participants of all ages, from high-school students to experienced cattle producers, to highlight the important role Wide Bay plays in Queensland's world-class beef industry.

Established in 1987, the Gympie Carcass Classic has become one of Queensland's premier educational cattle competitions. Through learning and collaboration, the event helps producers better understand market specifications, consumer expectations and emerging industry trends. This ensures our beef industry remains innovative and competitive.

I acknowledge the efforts of the organisers and sponsors, particularly Dan Sullivan and the Nolan family, and commend Hayden Pratt, Emma and Sheryl Franz, Amy Atkinson and the committee for their dedicated and hard work in delivering another outstanding classic. I presented the Highest MSA Index Score (Eating Quality) category award to Devils View Angus and congratulate them on also winning the High Scoring Angus x Charbray category award, which is a testament to their dedication to quality production and excellence in the beef industry.

To everyone involved in this year's Gympie Carcass Classic, thank you for your contribution to one of Australia's most important industries. I speak in support of petition EN10266, which was launched by Alecia Staines and the Maternity Consumer Network, with regard to professional indemnity insurance arrangements for endorsed midwives. Australian laws require two midwives to attend every home birth, and from 2027 the second attendant is also required to hold midwifery endorsement.

This might seem to be a simple regulatory matter, but for many women it affects something absolutely fundamental: the right to choose where and how they give birth. Many people currently fulfilling this role are not endorsed midwives. They are experienced hospital midwives, nurses and ambulance officers.

These second attendants average four home births each year. For many, the time, cost and insurance requirements needed to obtain endorsement are a barrier. With only 1,742 endorsed midwives across Australia and almost half of all home births occurring in rural and regional areas, these changes risk making home births inaccessible.

This petition calls for a transitional exemption until the end of 2027 and for meaningful consultation to assess the economic safety and psychological impacts. Women deserve birthing choice, regional Australians deserve access to the same maternity options that are available in cities, and this petition deserves strong support.