City of Bayswater councillor Lorna Clarke calls for breastfeeding to be allowed in the council chambers

It’s one of the most natural acts to perform — yet it still seems to be a source of anxiety for some. The right to breastfeed is enshrined in the Federal and State government’s standing orders but some local governments have yet to adopt this approach. Breastfeeding has been permitted on the floor of Federal Parliament since 2016 and in the Senate since 2003. Female State MPs were permitted to breastfeed their babies inside Parliament’s Lower House under a change to standing orders in 2021. City of Bayswater councillor Lorna Clarke called for breastfeeding to be allowed “in writing” at the council’s November 21 meeting. She questioned if the city was family friendly after a proposal from her to merge meeting dates in September to avoid one being held during school holidays was rejected. The vote on her proposal was tied 5-5 before mayor Filomena Piffaretti used her casting vote to reject it. “I think councils have a long way to go before we are really there in terms of family friendly,” Cr Clarke said. During debate on another proposed rescheduling, Cr Clarke said she could see “everyone rolling their eyes and shaking their heads” but felt really strongly about the council being family friendly after returning from maternity leave. “If it is not accepted that we’re going to be a family friendly council, then we need to have a look at what’s going on and why that is,” she said. “It’s not just for us, it’s for the people who give deputations, it’s for the people who come in here and awkwardly look over when they’ve got a small child or they’re breastfeeding. “Can I say, if anyone would like to breastfeed in this chamber, you are more than welcome, but I had a lot of anxiety around whether or not that would be challenged by the former council. “I’d like to see that very clearly set out in writing that that is possible.” CEO Jeremy Edwards told PerthNow after the meeting the city did not have a policy on breastfeeding in the council chamber but there was nothing preventing it. “There is a requirement for councillors to remain in their allocated seat when participating in meetings, which I acknowledge may be a little tricky when tending to a baby,” he said. “If an elected member wanted to breastfeed in the chamber, I am confident we could work out an arrangement to support them.” He said changes to the Local Government Act that encouraged women’s participation in local government, including the recent introduction of paternity leave, were welcome. In the neighbouring Town of Bassendean, newly elected councillor Jamayne Burke has attended council meetings with her baby daughter. A changing area has been set up in an office next to the council chamber and Cr Burke has been feeding her daughter in the public gallery while taking part in meetings. A town spokesperson said parents had the right through the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 to breastfeed in any public place and there was no need for a council policy or guideline. Mayor Kath Hamilton said Cr Burke had chosen to feed her daughter in the public gallery. “I would be aghast if we could not accommodate a mother,” she said. “We’re keen to make our chamber welcoming of people of all different backgrounds. “If you’re going to get diversity on council, you need to accommodate people and their circumstances.” Cr Burke said her experience at the council had “been extremely positive”. “As a senior leader and mother, I have seen a shift over the last 13 years with more organisations seeing the value in supporting working parents return to work,” she said. “It’s great to be part of a progressive council that facilitate an inclusive environment, offering diverse perspectives along with having a council reflective of community.” Cr Hamilton said young children had been brought into council meetings in the past — including one who projectile vomited. “These things happen, it could have been anywhere,” she said. The City of Vincent does not have a documented position on breastfeeding. Neither the cities of South Perth or Belmont or the Town of Victoria Park have a policy on breastfeeding, with all their CEOs saying the topic had not come up. “If any person wants to breastfeed in the chambers, they are welcome to do so,” South Perth CEO Mike Bradford said. “If instead they wanted a private room to breastfeed in whilst attending a council meeting, the city could also provide a room for that.” Belmont CEO John Christie said whoever was chairing its meetings was responsible for how they were run. “We understand the challenges that new mothers face and strive to create an environment where everyone can engage in the political process regardless of their life stage or personal circumstances,” he said. Victoria Park CEO Anthony Vuleta said the town had been an Australian Breastfeeding Association Accredited organisation for more than 10 years and had a workplace breastfeeding procedure for employees who were breastfeeding. He said the town’s access and inclusion plan prioritised enabling people to access its facilities, events, services and public engagement, including council meetings. Earlier this year, the Australian Breastfeeding Association launched its Breastfeeding is Welcome Everywhere program to encourage businesses and community venues to self-identify as welcoming to breastfeeding women and babies. The ABA said lack of support and negative community attitudes to breastfeeding were key contributors to mothers stopping breastfeeding before they were ready. “Mothers shouldn’t have to be concerned about where and when they need to breastfeed. It is important that mothers feel respected to breastfeed when their baby needs to,” Emily Carrolan, breastfeeding friendly environments team lead, said at the launch. “Perceived judgment from others while breastfeeding in public, unwanted comments or staring, and being made to feel they should cover up are all negative experiences that can impact a mum’s confidence to breastfeed in public or even continue breastfeeding at all.” Two breastfeeding women were asked to leave a Victorian court earlier this year. Under the Federal Sex Discrimination Act 1984, it is illegal in Australia to discriminate against a person either directly or indirectly on the grounds of breastfeeding.