How the researchers came to this figure

On average: 1 baby is born alive and left to die every 7 days, in Victoria and Queensland. This figure is taken from the total number of Victorian and Queensland babies born alive and left to die (neonatal death), between 2010-2020,  combined, divided by 11 (years), and then divided by 52 (weeks). 

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Downloading the official government reports with these statistics, so that it cannot be covered up. 

See the links below to access each report: 

1. Click on the link. If it doesn’t automatically open a new webpage, a small box with a title and web address may appear just below your mouse, click on the title. 

2. Once the link opens, find the download button (often an arrow at the top right hand side of the screen), and click on it. You might notice a notification down the bottom of your web-browser, or a small one at the top right hand corner to indicate its progress. 

3. Once the download is complete, find the documents on your desktop or in your ‘download’ folder, and place them in a folder of your choosing. You might make a backup copy on a USB stick, external hard drive etc.

            

Victoria (these are the figures for more than one baby born alive every 7 days and left to die) 

Total of: 396 babies born alive over 11 years (2010-2020). 

Average 36 per year. 

An average of .69 of a baby born alive and left to die every 7 days (more than 1 baby every 10 days).     

        

2020: 43 Babies born alive during TOP (Termination of Pregnancy) for suspected or confirmed congenital anomaly resulting in neonatal death. Appendix 3, Page 70, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, 2019, State of Victoria, Australia, Safer Care Victoria, May 2022: https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-05/FINAL%20CCOPMM%20REPORT_SCV-2020.pdf 

 

2019: 34 Babies born alive during TOP  for suspected or confirmed congenital anomaly resulting in neonatal death. Appendix 3, Page 50, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, 2019, State of Victoria, Australia, Safer Care Victoria, May 2021.https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/CCOPMM%20Mothers%20Babies%20and%20Children%202019%20report%20%28October%202021%20reissue%29_0.pdf

 

2018: 29 Babies born alive during TOP for suspected or confirmed congenital anomaly resulting in neonatal death. Page 71, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, 2018, State of Victoria, Australia, Safer Care Victoria, May 2019. : https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-12/CCOPMM%20REPORT%20-%20FINAL_181219.pdf

 

2017: 28 Babies born alive during TOP for suspected or confirmed congenital anomaly resulting in neonatal death. Page 90, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, 2017, State of Victoria, Australia, Safer Care Victoria, May 2019. https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-05/Mother%27s%20Babies%20and%20Children%20Report%202017_FINAL-WEB.pdf

 

2016: 33 Babies born alive during TOP for suspected or confirmed congenital anomaly resulting in neonatal death. Page 111, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, 2016, State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services June 2017. :https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-03/mothers-babies-children-2016.pdf

 

2015: 31 Neonatal deaths following TOP. Information is detailed and scattered, page 156-159, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, 2014 and 2015, State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services June 2017. https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-04/mothers-babies-children-2014-15-findings-recommendations-data_0.pdf

 

2014: 38 Neonatal deaths following TOP. Information is detailed and scattered.  Page 152-155 Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, 2014 and 2015, State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services June 2017. https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-04/mothers-babies-children-2014-15-findings-recommendations-data_0.pdf

 

2013: 43 Neonatal deaths, Termination for suspected or confirmed congenital abnormality. Table 13.28, Page 97, Table 13:28, Page 181, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, 2012 and 2013, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, Section 2, Data, Tables and figures, State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Servicest: https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1292925 

 

2012: 53 Neonatal deaths, Termination for suspected or confirmed congenital abnormality. Table 13:27, page 96, Table 13.27, Page 181, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity, 2012 and 2013, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, Section 2, Data, Tables and figures, State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services: https://vgls.sdp.sirsidynix.net.au/client/search/asset/1292925

 

2011: 40 Live births from Termination of Pregnancy for congenital anomaly. Figure 1.2, page 17, and table 1.1 page 18, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity  2010 and 2011, Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, Victoria’s Maternal, Perinatal, Child and Adolescent Mortality, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne: https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-09/Victoria%27s%20Mothers%2C%20Babies%20and%20Children%202010%20and%202011%20Annual%20Report.pdf 

 

2010: 24 Live births from Termination of Pregnancy for congenital anomaly. Figure 1.1, Page 16, and table 1.1, page 18 Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity 2010 and 2011,  Victoria’s Mothers and Babies, Victoria’s Maternal, Perinatal, Child and Adolescent Mortality, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne: https://www.safercare.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-09/Victoria%27s%20Mothers%2C%20Babies%20and%20Children%202010%20and%202011%20Annual%20Report.pdf 

 

Queensland (these are the figures for more than one baby born alive every 7 days and left to die) 

Total of: 328 babies born alive over 11 years (2010-2020). 

Average of: 29.8 per year 

0.57 - every 7 days. (1 baby every 13 days).  

 

Over the past 11 years, on average 15.28% of terminations over 20 weeks and/or >400g,  result in a baby born alive. This percentage has more than doubled in 10 years - from 9% in 2010, to 20.9% in 2020. (Please note that yearly percentages are written in the table on the reports): Page 15, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2011 Perinatal Death, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/451962/10-deaths-10.pdf , Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2019 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/1130495/10-deaths2020.pdf 

 

Note for understanding the reports: data taken from reporting includes three categories: stillbirth (died before born), and neonatal death (born alive, yet died afterwards). ‘Perinatal deaths’ is the total number of both stillbirth and neonatal deaths. Percentages are listed next to each number in the reports.

 

2020: 41 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2020 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/1130495/10-deaths2020.pdf 

 

2019: 48 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2019 Perinatal Deaths,the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/1004963/10-deaths2019.pdf 

 

2018: 29 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2018 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0037/962488/10-deaths2018.pdf

 

2017: 35 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2017 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/835402/10-deaths2017.pdf

 

2016: 31 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2016 Perinatal Deaths,the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/690736/10-deaths2016.pdf

 

2015: 32 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2015 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health):  https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/631880/10-deaths2015.pdf 

 

2014: 28 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2014 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/151219/10-deaths2014.pdf

 

2013: 22 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2013 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/368932/10-deaths2013.pdf

 

2012: 21 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2012 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health).: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/369004/10-deaths2012.pdf

 

2011: 20 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 13, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2011 Perinatal Deaths, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health):https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/369021/10-deaths2011.pdf

 

2010: 21 Neonatal deaths from Termination of pregnancy, fetus, newborn. Page 15, Table 10.13,Queensland perinatal Statistics 2011 Perinatal Death, the State of Queensland (Queensland Health): https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/451962/10-deaths-10.pdf 

 

Reports listed by year: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/hsu/peri     

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Western Australia: 

Total of 27 babies over 17 years. 

Average of 1.58 Baby per year* born alive following termination of pregnancy. *Rates are expected to be lower due to the current abortion laws in WA which have more restrictions on late term abortion. 

 

“As at 19 May 2017, a total of 27 cases of abortion procedures resulting in the live birth of a child have been reported between July 1999 and December 2016.”    page 1, Nick Gorian, Letter to the coroner, REPORTING OF THE UNNATURAL DEATHS OF 27 WESTERN AUSTRALIANS, legislative council, Western australia: https://parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4011873ce23df6cd9f5528584825830e000cf73e/$file/tp-1873.pdf 

 

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Reporting does not differentiate the neonatal death rates adequately to decipher the true rate of babies born alive as a result of termination of pregnancy from babies born alive due to other circumstances (e.g. spontaneous premature labour etc): “Examining the Register further reveals that the main cause of death listed on death certificates for the 59 neonates was extreme prematurity, prematurity and termination of pregnancy due to major foetal abnormalities.” page 15, ACT Children and Young People Death review comittee, Annual Report 2017,  Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, 2018https://www.childdeathcommittee.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1208381/ACT-Children-and-Young-People-Death-Review-Committee-Annual-Report-2017.pdf

 

    

Northern Territory 

4 cases* of ‘fetus/newborn’ deaths between 2011-2019, *however there is no distinction between the two categories, so the true numbers are not clear. “Perinatal deaths are a combination of stillbirths and neonatal deaths (as defined in the NT Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996.” - page vi. CDRPC (2020). Annual Report 2019-2020, Northern Territory Child Deaths Review and Prevention Committee, Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Darwin

https://justice.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/981903/cdrpc-annual-report-2019-20.pdf

 

2015-2019: This report is for the ‘perinatal period’. It is not clear if the 2 cases were stillborn (fetus) or neonatal (newborn) deaths. - page 30.. Appendix 1: Table of underlying cause of child deaths by ICD-10 chapters, NT, 2015-2019 ICD-10 Chapter 16: Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96), page 30, CDRPC (2020). Annual Report 2019-2020, Northern Territory Child Deaths Review and Prevention Committee, Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Darwin https://justice.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/981903/cdrpc-annual-report-2019-20.pdf 

 

2011-2015: This report is for ‘child deaths’ and does not differentiate between ‘fetus’ (stillborn) or ‘newborn’(neonatal). There were 2 terminations of pregnancy, affecting fetus and newborn related deaths. page 31, Appendix 2: Table of underlying cause of child deaths by ICD-10 chapters, NT, 2011-15, CDRPC (2015). Annual Report 2015-2016, Northern Territory Child Deaths Review and Prevention Committee, Office of the Children’s Commissioner, Darwin. 

https://justice.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/462919/cdrpc-annual-report-2015-16.pdf

 

South Australia 

Seems the reports are not publicly released - or they are not easy to access.: 

“These statistics are collated for the Committee appointed to examine and report on abortions notified in South Australia for its annual report to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing.” Wellbeing South Australia, Pregnancy Outcome statistics. https://www.wellbeingsa.sa.gov.au/evidence-data/pregnancy-outcome-statistics 

 

New South Wales  

Seems the reports are not publicly released - or they are not easy to access. 

 

Tasmania

Seems the reports are not publicly released - or they are not easy to access.