A bill introduced by Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, which aimed to ban the shackling of incarcerated women during childbirth and prevent the strip-searching of children in custody, was defeated in the Senate. The legislation failed to gain support from the two major parties, Labor and the Coalition, effectively blocking its passage.

Senator Thorpe argued that current practices are inhumane, stating that it is unacceptable for individuals to be shackled while giving birth or for children to be subjected to invasive searches. She urged the Senate to use its legislative authority to end these practices, describing them as "barbaric."

In response to the bill, the government argued that the federal government is not the appropriate authority to intervene in these matters. Officials maintained that the management of correctional facilities and the specific protocols regarding the treatment of inmates remain the responsibility of state and territory governments. While the bill highlighted significant concerns regarding human rights within the prison system, the legislative outcome reflects a jurisdictional disagreement over whether federal intervention is necessary or appropriate to govern state-run detention centers.