Backroom Baz: New mums establish on-site childcare facility at Spring St

It’s rare to get bipartisan let alone tri-partisan support for an idea, but it’s funny what babies can do, with three MPs establishing a childcare facility at Parliament House.

New parliament mums Liberal MP Jess Wilson with Patrick, Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland with Sigrid and Labor MP Martha Haylett with Liam are making the most of a new child care initiative at parliament. Picture: David Caird

A Victorian parliament baby boom has prompted a rare uniting of the three major parties.

Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland, Labor MP Martha Haylett, and Liberal MP Jess Wilson have come together to establish a new on-site childcare facility at Spring St.

The new mums, who gave birth to their babies – Sigrid, Liam and Patrick – just two weeks apart late last year, have personally hired early childhood educators for sitting days, allowing them to return to parliament sooner.

“With parliament’s long hours, having our babies here allows us to feed, nurture, and work without compromise,” Ms Cleeland, who represents the regional seat of Euroa, said.

Ms Haylett said that this is a “game changer for women politicians” and “especially us country MPs”.

“It means we can come back to work sooner and not be hundreds of miles away from our babies,” the Ripon MP said.

The new mums have hired early childhood educators for sitting days. Picture: David Caird

Kew MP, Ms Wilson, added “we have been entrusted to represent our communities, and this arrangement allows us to care for our babies as they grow, while also being effective local members”.

The three MPs credited Maree Edwards, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, for backing the initiative.

Ms Edwards has transformed a room in the parliament for babies and children, fitted with cots, a play area, feeding space and a working area for parents.

“The Victorian parliament turns 170 years old next year. It’s taken to this point for us to better support women politicians, parents and carers,” Ms Edwards said.

“This is about bringing parliament into the 21st century and making sure it’s an inclusive workplace.

Ms Edwards also joked that having babies present during sitting weeks has “changed the tone” in parliament.

“There’s a lot less yelling,” she added with a laugh.

Allan’s social media fails to make an impact

At a time in the not too distant past, Victorian Labor’s social media machine was the envy of politicos across the country.

Premier Daniel Andrews built up a huge online following. Picture: David Crosling

Daniel Andrews amassed more online followers than any other political leader in the country, and his government could gleefully ignore mainstream media as they became expert self publishers of their own narrative.

What a difference 18 months makes.

Baz is told an SOS has been sent to other state Labor branches looking for a better social media strategy for Jacinta Allan and her team. Watch this space.

Keeping the Greens at bay wins bipartisan support

Could the major parties be teaming up to try and keep the Greens at bay at next year’s general election?

After losing Prahran at this month’s by-election, the Greens number in the lower house fell from three to four, and the majors are keen to push it even lower.

Baz is told internal consideration among senior Liberals is being given to the possibility of a preference deal with Labor that would help it retain Prahran at the general election.

New Prahran MP Rachel Westaway. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Without such a deal, the party would almost certainly lose the seat and new MP Rachel Westaway from the parliamentary team.

But under a plan to keep the seat, Labor would preference the Libs in Prahran in return for preferences in the seat of Richmond which Labor lost in 2022 for the first time since 1958.

They don’t agree on much, but keeping the Greens at bay has got bipartisan support from the majors.

Libs are still struggling to play nice

Speaking of the Libs, Baz has become more than aware of the gaping chasm that continues to divide the parliamentary team.

And Baz uses the descriptor team most generously here, because despite the new leadership and yet another new beginning for the party, it seems they are still struggling to play nice.

Sam Groth with Bec Judd at LIV golf Adelaide.

Internal bickerings continue to plague the Liberal Party room with some MPs and staffers still refusing to speak to each other, and others privately backgrounding against colleagues.

At least one party leader had to personally intervene to try and stop an internal squabble going to the media this week.

There is also chatter growing about too many policies being announced without them going to Shadow Cabinet or other appropriate processes first.

Groth’s LIV golf idea was cited among a small list of grievances. A challenge for new leader Brad Battin to get a handle of early, or the division might keep his team in the political wilderness for another four years. Watch this space.

Originally published as Backroom Baz: New mums establish on-site childcare facility at Spring St