Boys believed to be the first twins born to an Australian sitting member of parliament

These Queensland boys are believed to be the federal parliament’s first history-making ‘quarantwins’. SEE THE FIRST PHOTOS.

THESE are the first publicly-released photos of Australia’s first history-making quarantwins.

The boys are believed to be the first set of twins born to a Member of Parliament while in office in the country, and only the third set in the world.

Brisbane’s Member for Lilley, Anika Wells and her husband Finn, welcomed Ossian and Dashiell Wells McCarthy at the North West Private Hospital in Everton Park on October 20.

Little Brothers for the couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Celeste, the twins have been dubbed the “quarantwins” due to the ongoing quarantine and lock down situations around the world because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ossian (left) and Dashiell (right) Wells McCarthy were born to Brisbane's Member for Lilley, Anika Wells, and her husband Finn, on October 20. Picture: Supplied

Ms Wells, 35, of Chermside, said Ossian and Dashiell, who weighed 2.675kg and 2.54kg respectively, would be heading to parliament with her once it resumed.

“The twins will be coming to Canberra with me next year when parliament resumes,” she said.

“Like all working parents, we will find a way to make the juggle work.”

Federal Labor MP for Lilley Anika Wells with husband, Finn, and daughter, Celeste. Picture: Mark Cranitch.

The Australian Labor Party member said the arrival of her sons was part of a recent “Labor baby boom” in the federal parliament, with Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education Amanda Rishworth, Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters and Canberra MP Alicia Payne all giving birth since the last election.

Ms Wells, who was elected to the House of Representatives for Lilley in 2019, said the increasing numbers of parents with small children being elected to federal parliament ensured the voices of young Australian families were being heard.

A spokeswoman for Ms Wells said Parliament’s standing orders may have to be reviewed to accommodate the Australian first.

“Parliamentary rules were revisited in 2015 as part of a push for a more “family friendly” parliament to allow an infant or child to enter the chamber with their parent, but the rules don’t specifically allow for two infants cared for by one MP,” she said.

Ossian (left) and Dashiell (right) Wells McCarthy were born to Brisbane's Member for Lilley, Anika Wells, and her husband Finn, on October 20. Picture: Supplied

The spokeswoman said, according to the Australian Parliamentary Library, the Wells McCarthy twins were only the third set of twins born to a sitting MP anywhere in the world – after US Democrat Blanche Lincoln gave birth to twin boys in 1996 and Canadian New Democrat Nike Ashton had twin boys in 2017.

Under previous Australian parliamentary rules, children were banned from the chamber and breastfeeding mothers were given a proxy vote.

The rules were revised at the end of 2015 to ensure breast or bottle-feeding politicians were able to take their babies into the chamber with them, as part of the new rules for a “family friendly” parliament.

Shortly after the arrival of Ossian and Dashiell last week, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese told the House of Representatives that it was “extraordinary” that a member of parliament had twins while in office.

“Indeed I’m sure I speak on behalf of everyone in the House that it is quite extraordinary that a member of our national parliament has had twins while in office,” he said at the time.