The Tasmanian Government welcomes new standing orders which modernise the House of Assembly by enabling women MPs to nurse their children in the chamber and automatically entitle them to 12 weeks maternity leave.
I congratulate the Chair, Elise Archer MP and the Standing Orders Committee on its recommendations which go further than any other Australian jurisdiction to support female members of Parliament.
It is important the Tasmanian Parliament is a modern workplace that recognises and caters for the needs of all Tasmanians, including new mothers.
I recently announced the Tasmanian Liberal Party target of 50 percent representation of women in our State Parliament, and these new standing orders will make it easier for MPs who are mums to continue their career after giving birth, and I hope also encourage more women to consider a career in politics.