Infants to be allowed in Parliament

QUEENSLAND looks set to formally allow MPs to bring infants on to the floor of the chamber after both the Premier and Opposition Leader backed a change to the rules.

Government backbencher Brittany Lauga flouted standing orders by breastfeeding her baby Odette in the chamber when MPs were being sworn in on Tuesday.

Her actions breach standing orders preventing a nonmember of the House from entering the chamber. Speaker Curtis Pitt has already called for a change to the rules, which must be recommended by the Committee of the Legislative Assembly.

Annastacia Palaszczuk backed a change to the 150year- old rule to make Parliament a more familyfriendly workplace.

Ms Palaszczuk endorsed Mr Pitt’s view that infants should be allowed in Parliament.

“It is contemporary practice in Parliaments in Australia and overseas,” Ms Palaszczuk said in a statement to the Bulletin.

“It’s important all mothers, no matter where they work, are able to provide for their child.”

Deb Frecklington also backed a change to the rules.

“I think we need to make sure that any mum has a workplace that she is able to work in,” Ms Frecklington said.

“I’m sure that the Speaker will be ruling accordingly.”

Members of the committee discussed the rules at a meeting yesterday but are believed to have not come to a decision on whether to change the standing orders or just allow the Speaker to turn a blind eye to breaches.