An incarcerated Aboriginal woman was shackled to a hospital bed while in labour in Queensland last weekend, according to advocacy group Sisters Inside.
The group’s chief executive, Debbie Kilroy, said the woman delivered a premature baby by caesarean section and remained in hospital. Hospital staff contacted Sisters Inside after failing to secure the removal of the restraints, Kilroy said.
Queensland corrective services said it would review the incident. A spokesperson said restraints should be used on pregnant prisoners only as a last resort when needed for public safety.
The birth came days before Labor and the Coalition blocked a bill to ban shackling incarcerated women during childbirth. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe introduced the measure in the Senate. Australia has signed on to UN rules stating that women must not be restrained during labour, birth or immediately afterwards.
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