Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer told to ‘express more breastmilk’ so she wouldn’t miss parliamentary votes

ONE of Tony Abbott’s hand-picked lieutenants told female Liberal MP Kelly O’Dwyer to “express more breastmilk” so she wouldn’t miss parliamentary votes.

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ONE of Tony Abbott’s hand-picked lieutenants told a female MP to “express more breastmilk” so she wouldn’t miss parliamentary votes while feeding her newborn baby.

Chief government whip Scott Buchholz, appointed by Mr Abbott after the February leadership spill, used his office to inform rising Liberal star Kelly O’Dwyer to express more breastmilk rather than feeding her daughter and missing parliamentary duties.

The Victorian MP, who is widely tipped for a promotion in Malcolm Turnbull’s new ministry confirmed the incident to News Corp Australia but says the issue has now been resolved.

She was furious when the request initially was made a few weeks ago during the last sitting period.

It is understood the request came after two incidents in which Ms O’Dwyer, the member for Higgins, missed a division and a speaking engagement in parliament because she was breastfeeding.

Under the current standing orders new mothers are given a proxy vote in parliament if they are breastfeeding.

However Mr Buchholz’s office wasn’t aware of the standing order until he consulted his opposition counterpart Chris Hayes.

Tipped to be elevated ... Kelly O'Dwyer with her daughter Olivia. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Expressing breastmilk often isn’t an easy exercise for new mums and to get an adequate serving of milk from expressing can often take longer than simply breastfeeding a baby.

Some babies also simply refuse to take a bottle and will only breastfeed directly from their mother.

Ms O’Dwyer took a short period of time off work after delivering her daughter Olivia in May and then returned to parliament after the Budget to resume her duties as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer.

When Olivia was just 12-weeks-old Ms O’Dwyer was well into the swing of her parliamentary duties and returning to Canberra for sitting weeks.

Ms O’Dwyer is one of the few sitting Liberal MPs to be pregnant while in parliament.

Queensland MP Mr Buchholz was appointed by Tony Abbott as chief government whip following the failed February leadership spill.

Mr Abbott replaced party veteran Phillip Ruddock who was chief whip at the time after it was claimed the party stalwart did not keep him well enough informed that a coup was being planned.

The revelation about Ms O’Dwyer comes as Mr Turnbull looks to promote more women to his ministry and cabinet.