Senator Helen Polley today called on Federal and State Governments to implement ‘Safe Haven’ legislation to help save the lives of children, such as the child abandoned and left to die in a green shopping bag in Victoria.

“Any child’s death is a tragedy, but this senseless death may have been avoided if Save Havens existed in Australia.  I have written to all State Attorney Generals and the Federal Attorney General asking for these laws to be considered.

“Safe Havens allow mothers who may otherwise recklessly abandon their baby a chance to take them to a designated area and leave them to be looked after and adopted - no questions asked.  If Save Havens were present in Australia then this poor child may have stood a chance”.

Safe Haven legislation has been enacted in 46 states in the United States and they have had enormous appeal there.  They are designed to help young mothers who do not want, or are unable to, look after their children.

“It seems to be a simple choice really – safe havens can help save children’s lives, and that is exactly what we should be considering in the wake of the two recent cases in South Australia and Victoria. 

“If the mother knew that there was a place she could go, safely leave her child and ensure that she would not be prosecuted I am sure we wouldn’t be reading headlines about newborn infants dying through abandonment.  Surely we should be doing all we can to help save children’s lives?”