A Greens senator has made Australian political history by becoming the first person to breastfeed a baby in the nation’s parliament. Larissa Waters returned to the upper house Senate for the first time on May 9 since giving birth to her second child, and brought her in for a feed during a vote.
Being able to breastfeed in the chamber follows new rules introduced last year to create a more a “family friendly” parliament in the wake of what has been described as a “baby boom” among politicians.
“So proud that my daughter Alia is the first baby to be breastfed in the federal Parliament! We need more #women & parents in Parli,” she wrote on social media site Twitter.
So proud that my daughter Alia is the first baby to be breastfed in the federal Parliament! We need more #women & parents in Parli #auspol pic.twitter.com/w34nxWxG0y
— Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) May 9, 2017
Labour frontbencher Katy Gallagher said the moment deserved to be acknowledged.
Larissa Waters (Photo: theaustralian.com.au)
“Women have been doing it in parliaments around the world… It is great to see it is able to occur now in the Senate,” she told Sky News.
Larissa Waters (Photo: theaustralian.com.au)
“Women are going to continue to have babies and if they want to do their job and be at work and look after their baby… the reality is we are going to have to accommodate that.”
Larissa Waters (Photo: AP)
Earlier, children were banned from the chamber and breastfeeding mothers were given a proxy vote.
Larissa Waters (Photo: AP)
Here is Kirstie Marshall before she was ejected from the Vic Parliament for breastfeeding her 11-day old bub. Look how far we have come! pic.twitter.com/LrzZcIFBXq
— Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) May 10, 2017
As soon as the news broke, Twitteraties across the globe poured in their wishes for baby Alia hailing Larissa’s move of breastfeeding her in parliament. Here are some tweets
@TwitterMoments @larissawaters What you see here is beautiful,this is a women nurturing her child,there is nothing sexual or inappropriate about it.
— CariCamilleDianSanks (@carisanks) May 10, 2017
“Senator becomes first to breastfeed in Australian Parliament”https://t.co/qWhSq4CKNh
— Stitch Burnham (@BurnhamBoy) May 10, 2017
@larissawaters
Awesome achievement
Inspiring
Let’s hope it will empower women worldwide who are ignorant of the practice of breastfeeding— Mauler (@HooGraham) May 10, 2017
This Australian Senator Who Breast-Fed Her Baby In Parliament Will Not Be Forgotten In A Long Time https://t.co/a5yZCbo946 pic.twitter.com/3a7gDiRy9H
— Mario Godwin (@mario1759) May 10, 2017
@larissawaters Wonderful! Congratulations on the new bub and for transforming the public sphere into a more woman friendly space!
— Petra Bueskens (@PetraBueskens) May 10, 2017
@larissawaters Congratulations Alia! Such a fabulous moment. #breastfeeding #publichealth #normalisebreastfeeding #support for families 6months #PPL
— naomi ibclc (@naomiibclc) May 9, 2017
@larissawaters Larissa, this has managed to put a smile on my face after an incredibly frustrating day. Keep fighting the good fight!
— Jess (@jessgrier) May 10, 2017
— AFP
