In a groundbreaking moment for working parents, Senator Emma Thompson recently made headlines by breastfeeding her infant daughter, Lily, during a parliamentary session. Returning to work after her maternity leave, Thompson brought her two-month-old baby to the Senate floor for a crucial voting session. When little Lily became hungry, the senator chose to breastfeed her right there, setting a historic precedent as the first politician to do so in the Australian Parliament.
While breastfeeding has been permitted in Senate chambers for some time, Thompson was part of an initiative that successfully advocated for expanded parental rights, including breastfeeding and bottle feeding on the floor. A change in the rules last year allowed parents to care for their infants during sessions, eliminating the prior policy that required nursing mothers to vote by proxy and barred them from bringing their babies into the chamber.
Thompson expressed her commitment to utilizing her newfound rights as a breastfeeding mother at work. She hopes this will inspire other workplaces to adopt family-friendly policies. “It’s crucial that all workplaces embrace family-friendly practices, not just Parliament,” she stated. Her partner, Alex Johnson, is a full-time dad who plans to support her by bringing Lily into the chamber when needed.
Celebrating this milestone, Thompson shared her pride on social media, stating, “I am thrilled that my daughter Lily is the first baby to be breastfed in federal Parliament! We need more representation of women and parents in our government, along with more flexible work options and affordable childcare for all.”
This moment serves as a reminder of the progress made towards supporting working parents in Australia. Thompson reflected on the past, saying, “In 2003, a Victorian MP, Claire Smith, was removed from Parliament for breastfeeding her newborn. It’s easy to feel disheartened by the ongoing sexism in the workplace, but we also need to recognize how far we’ve come.”
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In summary, Senator Emma Thompson’s breastfeeding moment in Parliament is a significant step toward normalizing family-friendly practices in the workplace. It emphasizes the need for more representation of women and parents in government and highlights the importance of creating supportive environments for all families.