A motion that would allow female MPs to breastfeed for a trial period is likely to pass in Western Australia’s Labor-dominated Lower House, however an amendment proposed by Nationals leader Mia Davies to also allow bottle-feeding has already been voted down.
In a survey, 31 of 45 MPs in Western Australia supported the move to allow members to bring children into the Lower House for feeding.
Liberal MP Liza Harvey described the amendment as necessary for parents to nurture their children independent of discrimination in the chamber and that the amendment’s rejection was discriminatory.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the House David Templeman said he would welcome a family-friendly room for children of parliamentarians.