Breastfeeding Aussie Senator Makes History

Larissa Waters is first to feed baby in country's Parliament
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted May 10, 2017 1:00 AM CDT
Aussie Lawmaker Breastfeeds Baby in Parliament
Australian Greens Party Sen. Larissa Waters breastfeeds her baby Alia Joy during a session in the Senate Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, May 9, 2017.   (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)

Australian Sen. Larissa Waters made history with her 2-month-old daughter Alia Joy on Tuesday. The Australian Greens party member became the first mother to breastfeed a baby in the Parliament chamber, winning praise for setting an example for mothers in the workplace, the Telegraph reports. Other lawmakers in countries including Argentina and Spain have breastfed their babies in parliament chambers, and Icelandic MP Unnur Bra Konradsdottir fed her baby while delivering a speech last year, though breastfeeding remains banned in parliaments in countries such as the UK.

Last year, Waters introduced rule changes that made it easier for lawmakers to bring children to work, saying it is "important we make all workplaces more family friendly, not just Parliament," the Courier-Mail reports. "I'll be having a few more weeks off but will soon be back in Parliament with this little one in tow," Waters wrote in a Facebook post announcing Alia Joy's birth in March. "She is even more inspiration for continuing our work to address gender inequality and stem dangerous climate change. (And yes, if she's hungry, she will be breastfed in the Senate chamber.)"

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X