Parliament Is About To Get A Lot More Adorable With MPs Allowed To Bring In Their Babies

The rules will be relaxed to help new mums balance their work and family life.

In good news for female MPs in Australia, a parliamentary committee has recommended a change to the rules that will allow new parents to bring their babies onto the floor of the House of Representatives.

Rob Griffith / AP

Currently MPs are allowed to vote by proxy if they have to leave the chamber to feed their infants but bringing them into the House is a breach of standing orders.

A Standing Committee on Procedure has issued recommendations to change that, published in a report titled 'Provisions for a more family-friendly Chamber'.

This suggested amendment changes a standing order about visitors being banned from the chamber, so an infant being cared for by a member is not classified as a visitor.

It will allow MPs to bring their babies into the chamber not just for breast feeding and bottle-feeding but at other times as well.

In handing down the findings, chair Andrew Southcott said the committee wanted to encourage a more representative parliament, and allow members to work and family.

"Promoting a family-friendly workplace assists all members with children, but female members in particular will benefit. Such positive and practical changes make the challenges to women serving in the Parliament a little easier to manage," he said.

The committee came about because of a parliamentary baby boom, with three MPs giving birth in 2015.

Tracey Nearmy / AAPIMAGE

Labor childhood minister Kate Ellis during the 2015 ALP National Conference in July.

It follows controversy over the issue in September, when Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer was told by government whip Scott Buchholz to express more breast milk for her newborn baby daughter so she wouldn't miss votes.

Stefan Postles / Getty Images

Ms O'Dwyer told ABC Radio she would choose not to breastfeed in the chamber, but understood if other mothers wanted to.

"It's a very personal thing," she said.

"I think every mother would say to you that there are some things you feel comfortable doing and some things you don't."

The recommendation means that a mother can bring her baby into the chamber if it is late at night and no other care is available, or if a division is called and it is most convenient to bring the baby in with her.