Australian Senator Passes Motion While Breastfeeding And People Love It
By Mark PygasUpdated Nov. 18 2019, 2:31 p.m. ET
Breastfeeding has been a pretty big topic for debate in recent years. Thankfully, more and more companies and public places are accommodating women who might need a private quarter to breastfeed their child. More and more workplaces are being flexible for breastfeeding as well. It is great to see everyone come around and understand that this is an important part of life and women returning to the workplace after having a child. It is definitely a big step for everyone and we hope to see the trend continue. It is not really that we need laws around it either, it really comes down to simple adoption by places and companies and it should not have to be mandated. In fact, not only do we not necessarily need a law, it seems some lawmakers themselves are showing us first hand how we can do it.
Back in May, Australian senator Larissa Waters of the Greens Party made history after she became the first senator to breastfeed her child in Federal Parliament. Waters made headlines when she arrived back at Parliament after a brief maternity leave with her baby daughter, Alia, in her arms.
And now, Waters has made history again after she moved a motion while breastfeeding her child. Waters just happened to be in the middle of breastfeeding her daughter when she was called upon to pass a senate motion on black lung disease among coal workers. And because moms are the experts when it comes to multitasking, it didn't even phase her.
Greens Senator @larissawaters just became the first woman in Australian parliament to give a speech while breast feeding. pic.twitter.com/lvmZ8C32GN
— BuzzFeedOz Politics (@BuzzFeedOzPol) June 22, 2017Waters took to Twitter after the video went viral, joking that Alia moved her own motion just before hers.
First time I've had to move a Senate motion while breastfeeding! And my partner in crime moved her own motion just before mine, bless her
— Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) June 22, 2017She also responded to a piece of criticism.
Lol "Regards" pic.twitter.com/2znTs1etvQ
— Larissa Waters (@larissawaters) June 22, 2017Though there was much more praise for the senator on social media.
Just watched @larissawaters simultaneously move a motion in the Senate while breastfeeding. All the multi-tasking.
— Stephanie Peatling (@srpeatling) June 22, 2017Senator Larissa Waters with daughter Alia Joy, moves a motion in the Senate pic.twitter.com/3sXGDuuPTm
— Alex Ellinghausen (@ellinghausen) June 22, 2017Greens Senator Larissa Waters putting forward a motion on Black Lung while breastfeeding in the Senate #auspol pic.twitter.com/k7RgBy4yqp
— Lukas Coch (@cochl) June 22, 2017Here's Larissa Waters moving a motion in the senate while feeding her baby. Didn't miss a beat. pic.twitter.com/1Y7EOCq7qK
— Charles Croucher (@ccroucher9) June 22, 2017Absolute QUEEN @larissawaters moving a motion in the Senate whilst breastfeeding. Thank you for normalising women's bodies #auspol pic.twitter.com/nq5z4pIPSV
— Rachel Cashmore (@rachelsarahcash) June 22, 2017Kid's got to eat.
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