Aboriginal mother shackled to bed after caesarean, hospital staff raise alarm

Queensland Corrective Services launches review over alleged restraint

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Updated20 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources4 outlets

Queensland Corrective Services has launched a review into allegations that an Aboriginal mother was shackled to her bed by her ankle and wrist following a caesarean birth at Townsville University Hospital, while her newborn baby was in the neonatal intensive care unit. Hospital staff reported the incident, describing the mother's deteriorating condition and alleging racist remarks by prison officers, prompting renewed calls for a ban on the practice.

Queensland Corrective Services has launched a review after hospital staff raised the alarm that an Aboriginal mother was shackled to her bed by her ankle and wrist following a caesarean birth at Townsville University Hospital, while her newborn baby received care in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Debbie Kilroy, chief executive of the advocacy organisation Sisters Inside, said her group was contacted last week by distressed midwives and nurses who witnessed the mother's treatment. According to Kilroy, staff requested repeatedly that the shackles be removed so the woman could recover from major surgery and visit her baby in the NICU, but prison officers refused. The mother, who gave birth on October 10, became highly distressed and her health deteriorated before the staff's eyes. Kilroy also stated that hospital staff allege prison officers made "racist and derogatory remarks" about the woman and are formalising a complaint.

Minister for Corrective Services Laura Gerber confirmed she had been briefed on the incident. "A pregnant woman can only be restrained as a last resort due to public safety and in this instance, I have been briefed by my department, the woman was not restrained during the delivery of the baby," she said. A spokesperson for Queensland Corrective Services said the management of the prisoner will be subject to an internal review, reiterating that restraints are only used as a last resort.

The incident has intensified political pressure on the Crisafulli government. Federal independent senator Lidia Thorpe recently introduced a bill to ban the shackling of incarcerated women during childbirth, but it was blocked by Labor and Coalition MPs. Following its defeat, state Labor MP Jonty Bush launched a petition calling on the Queensland government to expressly prohibit the use of handcuffs, shackles and other custodial restraints on women during labour, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period. Bush argued there is no justification for the practice, pointing to the United Nations Bangkok Rules, which assert that instruments of restraint shall never be used on women during labour, during birth and immediately after birth.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The incident raises serious questions about the treatment and human rights of incarcerated women in Queensland hospitals, particularly Aboriginal women.
It has created immediate political pressure on the state government to act after a federal ban was blocked in parliament.
The case highlights a conflict between correctional security protocols and basic medical and human rights standards during childbirth.

Background

The use of restraints on pregnant women in custody has been widely condemned by medical and human rights organisations internationally. The United Nations Bangkok Rules, adopted in 2010, specifically prohibit the practice. In Australia, efforts to legislate a federal ban have been unsuccessful, leaving it to individual states and territories to set their own policies. Advocacy groups have long reported instances of shackling, but this case, which involves an Aboriginal mother recovering from surgery with her baby in intensive care, has drawn particular outrage.

Key Perspectives

[Advocates and Hospital Staff]: Led by Sisters Inside and state MPs like Jonty Bush, they view the practice as medically dangerous and inhumane. They argue the alleged racist remarks compound the trauma and demand an explicit legislative ban, pointing to the futility of the flight risk justification. [Queensland Government and Corrective Services]: Emphasises that protocols were followed, noting the woman was not restrained during delivery itself. The department states that restraints are only a last resort for public safety and that an internal review will determine if those protocols were properly applied. [Federal Parliament]: The Coalition's and Labor's decision to block Senator Thorpe's bill signals a preference for state-level regulation, leaving a patchwork of protections across the country despite clear international standards.

What to Watch

The findings and recommendations of the Queensland Corrective Services internal review.
The progress of Jonty Bush's petition and whether it leads to binding legislative change in Queensland.
The potential for similar cases or legislative reviews to emerge in other states and territories.

Sources

Hospital staff raise alarm, claiming mother shackled while baby in NICU · WA Today - Latest News
Hospital staff raise alarm, claiming mother shackled while baby in NICU · Brisbane Times - Latest News
Hospital staff raise alarm, claiming mother shackled while baby in NICU · The Age - Latest News
Hospital staff raise alarm, claiming mother shackled while baby in NICU · Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 8 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedAn Aboriginal mother was shackled to a bed after a caesarean birth.WA Today - Latest News: “an Aboriginal woman was reportedly shackled by her ankle and wrist to the bed following a c-section birth at Townsville University Hospital.”
SupportedQueensland Corrective Services launched a review over the alleged restraint.WA Today - Latest News: “Queensland Corrective Services have launched a review into the incident”
SupportedThe reported restraint was at Townsville University Hospital while the newborn was in the NICU.WA Today - Latest News: “an Aboriginal woman was reportedly shackled by her ankle and wrist to the bed following a c-section birth at Townsville University Hospital.”
Partly supportedHospital staff repeatedly asked for the restraints to be removed so the mother could recover and visit her baby.WA Today - Latest News: “According to Kilroy, staff asked for the restraints to be removed from the mother, who gave birth on October 10, while she was recovering from major surgery, and so she could visit her baby in the NICU without physical restrictions, but prison officers refused.”
Partly supportedThe mother became highly distressed and her health deteriorated before staff's eyes.WA Today - Latest News: ““[The mother became] highly distressed … [and over the week] her health was deteriorating before their eyes.””
SupportedHospital staff alleged prison officers made racist and derogatory remarks, and were formalising a complaint.WA Today - Latest News: “Hospital staff told Kilroy prison officers made “racist and derogatory remarks” about the woman, and are in the process of formalising a complaint about her treatment by corrective services.”
SupportedMinister Laura Gerber said she had been briefed on the incident.WA Today - Latest News: “Minister for Corrective Services Laura Gerber said she was aware of the incident. “A pregnant woman can only be restrained as a last resort due to public safety and in this instance, I have been briefed by my department, the woman was not restrained during the delivery of the baby,” she said.”
SupportedGerber said the woman was not restrained during delivery and that restraint is only permitted as a last resort due to public safety.WA Today - Latest News: ““A pregnant woman can only be restrained as a last resort due to public safety and in this instance, I have been briefed by my department, the woman was not restrained during the delivery of the baby,” she said.”
Partly supportedQueensland Corrective Services said the prisoner's hospital management would be reviewed and restraints are only used as a last resort.WA Today - Latest News: ““The management of this prisoner while at hospital will be subject to an internal review as restraints are only ever to be used as a last resort on pregnant prisoners where necessary to maintain public safety.””
SupportedThe incident intensified political pressure on the Crisafulli government to ban shackling during childbirth.WA Today - Latest News: “The Crisafulli government is facing mounting pressure to ban the “barbaric practice” of shackling women during childbirth after complaints”
SupportedLidia Thorpe introduced a bill to ban shackling incarcerated women during childbirth, and Labor and Coalition MPs blocked it.WA Today - Latest News: “independent senator Lidia Thorpe introduced a bill into federal parliament to ban the shackling of incarcerated women during childbirth and the strip searching of children, which was blocked by Labor and Coalition MPs.”
SupportedJonty Bush launched a petition to prohibit restraints on women during labour, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period.WA Today - Latest News: “On Monday, state Labor MP Jonty Bush launched a petition calling for the Queensland government to “expressly prohibit the use of handcuffs, shackles and other custodial restraints on women during labour, childbirth and the immediate postnatal period”.”