The advice,from the office of the now-dumped Coalition Whip Scott Buchholz,enraged the recipient,cabinet minister Kelly O'Dwyer and many of her women colleagues. Mr Buchholz was later informed that House of Representatives regulations allowed a proxy vote for new mothers.
The governmentquietly asked the committee,which includes Mr Buchholz,to investigate breastfeed should be allowed in the lower house,just as it is permitted in the Senate,while Opposition Leader Bill Shortencalled for the change immediately.
The committee's report said:"A number of members said that it would be their preference to use a proxy vote rather than breastfeed under the scrutiny of the national media."
"It has been put to the committee,however,that if the Parliament is to fully support breastfeeding,it should not be prohibited in any part of the building,including the chamber and federation chamber,"the report said.