An Indigenous woman in Queensland was reportedly restrained with shackles while in labour at a hospital last weekend, according to an advocacy organization. The incident occurred shortly before federal Labor and Coalition parties jointly blocked a bill aimed at outlawing the use of restraints on incarcerated women during childbirth.

Debbie Kilroy, chief executive officer of Sisters Inside—a group advocating for the rights of incarcerated women—stated that the Aboriginal woman, who underwent a caesarean section to deliver a premature baby, had been shackled intermittently throughout her hospital stay. Kilroy said hospital staff contacted Sisters Inside after unsuccessful attempts to have the restraints removed, describing how medical personnel expressed distress over prison authorities’ refusal to take off the shackles.

Queensland Corrective Services confirmed the matter would be subject to an internal review. A spokesperson emphasized that restraints are intended only as a last resort for pregnant prisoners and are applied solely when necessary to ensure public safety.

The issue has sparked renewed debate over the use of restraints on incarcerated women in childbirth, with advocates describing the practice as inhumane and calling for legislative reform to end it. Meanwhile, authorities maintain that restrictions are applied under strict guidelines and only when essential for security reasons.