Birth Choices: What's happening in my 'Lucky Country?'

Hi.
I'm a father of 2 (soon to be 3) living in Melbourne, Australia.
I plan to use this online forum to post my thoughts and feelings on home birth, based on my own family's experiences. I've been motivated to do so after recent movements in Australian politics have paved the way towards ending the legal practice of independent midwifery (and effectively outlawing home birth) in this country.
My writings here will not be about force-feeding the concept of home birth to anyone, but rather to share my own personal journey as it continues towards my partner's 3rd planned home birth this year.
The topic of home birth is emotive.
Fathers tend to be innately protective. (I'd been paying for private health insurance for years because I thought the best birth environment for all women was the shiniest private hospital.)

The current models for birthing in Australia disempower women, which in turn has consequences for the baby and entire family.
Home birth isn't for all women/families, but informed choice is.
Having supported my partner through the successful home births of two children over the past 3 years, and with another fast approaching, the underlying message that stays with me as a father is that women ultimately deserve to feel comfortable and trusting of both their birth environment and support people; be that independent midwives with a partner and best friend in the living room, or an obstetrician and medical team in a private hospital for an elective c-section.
Denying women of this fundamental choice would be a big step backward for this country's women, families and generations to come.
The pain of traumatic birth experiences last far beyond visible wounds.
We as a country are poorly educated about birth, making it very easy for scare-mongering to proliferate.
I look forward to telling my story in the hope that it might make some difference.
One can only try.

There's a lot to say...I'll take it bit by bit.

Thanks for reading & please don't be shy about posting your comments.

For what it's worth, a bit about me:
- I'm 30 years old
- I'm not a hippie (although I admit, there's a bit of tofu in my diet)
- I was as sceptical as could be about the concept of home birth when my partner first suggested the notion to me, a little over 3 years ago (I've learnt a lot since then).

Oh, and if you're reading Nicola Roxon, please don't forget to check your mail.