New rules allow breastfeeding in federal Parliament

POLITICIAN parents will be allowed to take their children into the House of Representatives and new mothers will be able to breastfeed under an overhaul of Parliamentary rules.

Kelly O'Dwyer and her 4 month old baby Olivia after being sworn-in, in the New Turnbull Ministry, of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries (to be known as Assistant Ministers) at Government House, in Canberra.

POLITICIAN parents will be allowed to take their children into the House of Representatives and new mothers will be able to breastfeed under an overhaul of Parliamentary rules.

The Government recently reviewed guidelines banning children from the chamber in response to an increasing in the number of new mums in office.

Leader of the House of Representatives Christopher Pyne said no Member of Parliament, male or female, should be prevented from the law making processes because they are also caring for their child.

“As the Leader of the House of Representatives, I want to see as many women entering parliament as possible and for them to not be deterred by any antiquated rules or practices that currently govern how our Parliament operates”, Mr Pyne said.

“There is absolutely no reason that rules should remain in place which make life in politics and the Parliament more difficult for women.”

State MP Kirstie Marshall caused controversy in 2003 when she breastfed her baby in the House. Breastfeeding is now permitted in the federal House of Representatives. Picture: Channel 7

The change comes just months after frontbencher Kelly O’Dwyer was asked by staff in Chief Whip Scott Buchholz’s office to express more milk to avoid missing Parliament.

Under the current parliamentary rules, mothers who are breastfeeding get a proxy vote.

The change is expected to put pressure on the Senate and other State and Territory parliaments to amend similar bans.

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