media release

DATE 20/08/10

HOW MANY ABANDONED BABIES WILL IT TAKE BEFORE GOVERNMENT LISTENS

Senator Helen Polley, Labor Senator for Tasmania said today that the finding of a baby girl in a shoe box in Strathfield, NSW yesterday again highlights the need for the implementation of Baby Safe Havens in Australia.

 

“It is tragic that infants are being abandoned and left to die – Australia needs to take action now to prevent any further deaths.

 

“We need to encourage the community to have some earnest dialogue on this very important issue.

 

I call once again on all State and Territory Governments to engage in discussions with their communities to form a national approach to protect unwanted babies because it is clear that the State laws that are in place are inadequate,” Senator Polley said.

 

Senator Polley also expressed concern for the wellbeing of the baby’s mother.

 

“She needs to understand that there are people in the community who are ready and willing to assist her in this difficult time and I encourage her to come forward.

 

“These media releases reporting abandoned babies are being submitted too often,” Senator Polley said who has been actively campaigning for the implementation of “Baby Safe Havens” in Australia for several years now.

 

Senator Polley said “since I started the campaign for Baby Safe Havens in 2007, there have been 15 reported abandoned babies and who knows how many more have been abandoned and not discovered.”

 

The Australian Medical Association and other organisations have previously expressed their support for Baby Safe Havens.

 

“If Baby Safe Havens were operational in Australia, this tragedy may well have been avoided,” Senator Polley said.

Senator Polley said that there is a facebook page supporting the call for Baby Safe Havens in this country: