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-- Victorian MP Ejected from Debating Chamber for Breast-Feeding

Victorian MP Ejected from Debating Chamber for Breast-Feeding

quote:

Celebrity MP Kirstie Marshall caused a parliamentary sensation yesterday when she was ejected from the chamber for breastfeeding her newborn before the first question was even asked. The new backbencher was forced to remove the "stranger" she had brought into the house, 12-day-old Charlotte Louise. Women's groups were outraged at the treatment of Ms Marshall, saying the Victorian Parliament was stuck in the last century. Under parliamentary rules only MPs and certain parliamentary staff are allowed in the House during sitting times. Ms Marshall said she was not aware of the rule before she was approached by a parliamentary official, serjeant-at-arms Gavin Bourke, just before question time.

Full Story:

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2...6064105574.html

The Opinion:

quote:

The Victorian parliament's ejection of new mum Kirstie Marshall for breastfeeding her baby in the chamber showed women were still second-class citizens, an international breastfeeding expert said today. Speaking before her address at an Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) conference in Melbourne, British academic Sheila Kitzinger said parliamentary standing orders banning non-MPs - including new-born children - from the floor were archaic, like something ``before the flood''. She said she was ``gobsmacked'' to learn the parliamentary Sergeant-at-Arms asked Ms Marshall to leave the Legislative Assembly yesterday after she began breastfeeding 11-day-old Charlotte prior to question time. ``This is really a throwback, and I thought Australia was a progressive country,'' Ms Kitzinger told AAP. ``You still get men who think parliament is a man's club. They just about tolerate women, but they can't tolerate babies. advertisement advertisement ``I think it says women are second class citizens and babies are way down - they are fourth class citizens, if that.'' But Ms Kitzinger said the public debate over breastfeeding in parliament would help people accept it in public. ``We have to reorganise our workplaces for both mothers and fathers, and babies and I think this will do some good. It's worth the discussion,'' she said. She called on the Bracks government to change rules forcing Ms Marshall to move to a separate room to breastfeed. Premier Steve Bracks said yesterday a line had to be drawn somewhere, but speaker Judy Maddigan - the first female speaker in the lower house - said the issue would be examined in a review of parliamentary rules. ``Question time was an important part of her job,'' Ms Kitzinger said. ``Do they set aside a room for men's business, or just female business?'' -AAP

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2...6064151684.html


So what do you think - was she right to have been ejected, or should she have had the right to stay? Is breast-feeding in parliament unacceptable, or is it merely the excercising of the inherent right of every female? And, expanding on that, what are your opinions on the rights of pre-natal and post-natal women in the workplace in general?

Stupid, I think.
Personally I don't see the problem. What bugged the other MPs more? The sight of a naked breast, the presence of a "stranger" who's not a member of parliament or the potential danger of being disturbed by a loud scream or a cute little burp by the baby?
If their argument is the "ethical" one, then they're indeed somewhere in the middle ages, seeing how the Italian government has an ex- Porn extress as a member...or how recently a German MP loudly proclamied his homosexuality to end all rumors. (Quote of the year: " I'm gay, and that's good!").

While what she did is a bit exhibitionist, I still don't think that's enough reason to kick her out.

Well its not hard to figure out what happened here:

1. A few people were made uncomfortable by her breast-feeding in the debating chamber.
2. They found a stupid rule that would let them kick her out, thus ending their feeling of being uncomfortable, even though the situation had nothing to do with the purpose of the rule.
3. The idiots in charge listened to them (or were them).

This happens all the time in various forms and contexts, and it is not a phenomenon we ought to encourage.

I do not understand how people can actually be bothered by a mother breastfeeding her child. Its natural and not only should people not be bothered by it, they should never have thrown that lady out.

In the US you can get fined for breastfeeding in public, its utterly ridiculous.

"Oh no I can see her breast, my god I'm scarred for life"

I swear this planet is going to hell in a handbasket.

quote:

Originally posted by DrUg_Tit0 While what she did is a bit exhibitionist, I still don't think that's enough reason to kick her out.

yes, I agree. although, if the rules state that no other persons are allowed in the room, then the newborn baby, being a person, is not allowed in the room.

as for breastfeeding, heh, if this was time for business, kids are not brought to work. unless they want to pass new rules.



>JM<

quote:

Originally posted by JM yes, I agree. although, if the rules state that no other persons are allowed in the room, then the newborn baby, being a person, is not allowed in the room. as for breastfeeding, heh, if this was time for business, kids are not brought to work. unless they want to pass new rules. >JM<

Its a newborn though, the nanny brings the kid to get a quick feeding and takes the baby away after she's done.

She's a polititian and she's doing her job by coming to work even though she just had a child, I'd call that loyalty to those who voted for her

quote:

Originally posted by Thor Its a newborn though, the nanny brings the kid to get a quick feeding and takes the baby away after she's done. She's a polititian and she's doing her job by coming to work even though she just had a child, I'd call that loyalty to those who voted for her

oh yeah, i agree! i have NO problems with breastfeeding in public or at work. all i was saying that the rules were enforced to the maximum in this case....and i dont necessarily agree with them

but thinking more about it, she should've cleared up the issue before feeding the baby. she would've been ignorant not to ANTICIPATE any reactions, or even the worst reaction, which occured.

>JM<

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