Queensland parliament to roll back 'family friendly' hours to benefit regional MPs
Queensland Labor MP Jess Pugh, pictured with her daughter Elyse, says the change will "deeply impact" regional MPs with newborns. (AAP: Jono Searle)
The Queensland government has scrapped so-called "family friendly" hours at state parliament, arguing the change will allow more debate time and benefit regional MPs.
But the move has been criticised by the opposition, which says the changes will make it harder for female MPs with newborns and toddlers.
The former Labor government changed sitting hours in 2018, which resulted in the day usually wrapping up by 7.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 6.30pm on Thursdays.
Former Labor MP Brittany Lauga was the first person to breastfeed in the Queensland chamber. (AAP: Dan Peled)
Previously, politicians would sit late to debate legislation but Wednesdays would be a later start at 2pm for committee business in the morning.
Before the state election, the LNP made a commitment to revert to the old hours, and since winning government in October has pushed forward with the changes.
Parliament will now sit from 9:30am to 9:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 2pm to 9:30pm on Wednesdays, with parliamentary committees to meet in the morning.
Leader of the House, Christian Rowan, said the change would allow regional MPs more time at home in their electorate, as they no longer needed to fly to Brisbane on Sundays.
Christian Rowan says the change would allow regional MPs to spend more time in their electorate. (AAP: Darren England)
"Queenslanders voted for a fresh start, these changes to parliament allow us to deliver it," Dr Rowan said.
"Regional MPs are FIFO, they come to parliament to represent their communities, when they're in their electorate they can meet with residents and attend community events.
"By moving committee meetings from Mondays to Wednesdays, regional MPs will be able to maximise community engagement on the weekends and fly in for parliament on Monday morning."
Queensland MP and Katter's Australian Party leader Robbie Katter also supported the change, saying it would allow him to spend more time with family before the parliament sitting week.
'Deep' impact on regional MPs with newborns
Mount Ommaney MP Jess Pugh, who juggled her newborn daughter Elyse and parliament sittings, said the change would impact "most deeply on regional MP's who have breastfeeding babies".
Jess Pugh and her daughter Elyse at Queensland parliament. (Supplied: Jess Pugh)
"I was very lucky to have my husband and family help with childcare for parliament sittings when Elyse was a breastfeeding infant," she said.
"In my first term, I sat next to Brittany Lauga who brought baby Odette — who was nursing — to parliament every sitting and did a fantastic job balancing a newborn and her parliamentary responsibilities with the help of a self-funded carer.
"What she did with Odette would be incredibly difficult under the new arrangements."
Former Keppel MP Brittany Lauga with her daughter Odette. (AAP: Dan Peled)
With the later hours, politicians have to remain at parliament until the house rises at 9:30pm to either sit inside the chamber on a late shift or be called upon for a division.
If a division is called, MPs essentially must "drop everything" and go into the chamber.
Ms Pugh said the change of hours sent the wrong message to women considering a career in state parliament.
Jess Pugh's daughter Elyse learning to crawl at parliament. (Supplied: Jess Pugh)
"It's taken well over 100 years to get the first 100 women elected to parliament, but we are finally turning the tide," she said.
"It's wonderful to have so many young women elected, however, we need to ensure they are coming into a workplace that supports them to start a family if they want to.
"These changes make it so much harder, especially for nursing mums of newborns.
"It doesn't send a welcoming message to women considering a career in politics while balancing family."
'Return to late nights'
Manager of Opposition Business, Mick de Brenni, said Labor made the changes to sitting hours when the party was in government to reflect a more "modern" workplace.
"What we want to ensure is that the parliament reflects the community expectations of a modern workplace," he said.
"It seems that one of the first steps the new Crisafulli government has taken is to return to late nights — it will mean members will be away from family.
"We preferred to see the opportunity for young people, mums, dads to see parliament as a place they'd like to work and I'm not sure that these new hours go anyway to doing that."
Mr de Brenni said the LNP's changes only allowed for an additional five minutes of debate time, given the late start on Wednesday.
Federal parliament more 'family friendly' after report
Federal parliament moved to have more family friendly hours in the House of Representatives in 2022.
Labor's leader of the house introduced the changes on the first sitting day of the 47th parliament, following the Set the Standards report by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.
Federal parliament adopted more family friendly hours after Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins's report. (ABC News)
Her review of parliamentary culture recommended the House of Representatives and Senate look at "enhancing wellbeing, balance and flexibility for parliamentarians and workers in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces".
The house now sits 30 minutes earlier on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9:00am, and divisions usually aren't called after 6:30 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.