Labor and Coalition block bill that would ban incarcerated women being shackled in childbirth

Liberal Paul Scarr breaks ranks to condemn major parties, saying he will write to Queensland attorney general

Labor and the Coalition are set to reject a bill that would have banned the shackling of incarcerated women during childbirth, with the government saying it was the responsibility of the states and territories.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe introduced the bills into the senate, which would have to prevent shackling and stopped children being strip-searched will fail in the Senate.

The government said “the responsibility of criminal justice system predominantly sits with state and territory government”, while the Coalition said it “understands the intent” of the bill but also won’t support its passage.

Liberal senator Paul Scarr broke ranks to condemn the major parties, describing himself as “deeply concerned” by the Australia-wide practice and vowing to raise it with the Queensland attorney general, Deb Frecklington.