Last week it was revealed, by The Leader, that the local service had been put into hiatus and would not be accepting any new mothers.

The announcement was met with an outpouring of community concern, which on Monday was aired during question time in the NSW Upper House.

Ms Walker posed two questions to Health Minister Brad Hazzard in regards to the unannounced recent hiatus.

“Can the government advise when the community midwife service will be accepting expecting mothers, and when will the staff positions needed to operate the program be advertised by Hunter New England Health,” Ms Skinner said.

While Mr Hazard was not in the house at the time, the questions were asked of his representative, Niall Blair, with a response from Mr Hazard expected in the near future.

Ms Walker has a history of getting behind these movements, recently helping to spearhead a similar hiatus and then closure of the community service in her hometown of Murwullimbah.

In that instance public pressure forced a reversal of the decision, and that is what Ms Walker and the Friends of Tamworth Maternity Services are hoping to happen locally.

“When I saw what was happening in Tamworth I was immediately concerned – it was almost copybook of what happened in Murwullimbah,” Ms Walker said. The Government needs to start coming clean with the community and start answering rather than avoiding. It is recognised that these services offer the best practice models of care with proven benefits, including less intervention and lower costs.” 

Locally the Action Group have issued an ultimatum to Tamworth Hospital Manager Catharine Death, demanding a face to face meeting under the threat of further public protests.