Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Bill

The purpose of this bill is something I have spoken about a little bit already in this debate, but I think it is quite worthwhile to have a look at how the purpose has actually changed as the bill has progressed through the select committee. Certainly, when we first saw this bill, the purpose was “breast-feeding and bonding, provided that this is in the best interests of the child, and that certain other conditions are met.” So it was quite clearly about breastfeeding and bonding. After the course of the select committee, the purpose has been changed to being “for the purposes of bonding, feeding, and maintaining continuity of care, provided that certain criteria and conditions are met.”

We do not have to look very far to realise that there has been acceptance that breastfeeding is not actually being promoted by this bill now; it is about feeding. It does not actually say “breast is best”, which is what those of us here who are mothers were always taught. So I am a little bit concerned that breastfeeding facilities, and clearly breastfeeding assistance and support, need to be available. I know that some people say that that is being a bit too tough on the Department of Corrections. But I think it might also be a reality—and we accept the reality—that many of our mothers today are kicked out of hospital after only one day, and in fact they never get breastfeeding established. Certainly, I recall that it took about 4 or 5 days for breastfeeding to get established when I was a young mother, and that is a really—

💬 Sandra Goudie: Mastitis!

Oh, do not talk to me about mastitis, I say to Mrs Goudie; I could tell the member about that, and the House really does not want to hear about it!

I think it is extremely important that we acknowledge that breastfeeding is one of the problems. Clearly, it is better for babies to be breastfed—

💬 Sandra Goudie: And for the mother.

—well, I am not sure about that—and all the statistics and all the evidence tells us that. I think it would be so much better if we could encourage breastfeeding much more for mothers in prisons, but let us be real here. If these mothers come into hospital, have a baby, and are kicked out within 24 hours—in other words, they are moved out somewhere—how are they ever supposed to get breastfeeding established? The mothers we are talking about here are mothers who have multiple challenges in many cases, so it is probably unrealistic for us to expect that there will be this push in support of breastfeeding for our mothers, with their babies, in prison.

However, the purpose of the bill is quite clearly to assist young children who are the children of female prisoners. I think it does not hurt to acknowledge that those young mothers will also benefit from the opportunity to continue to be active mothers, to breastfeed if they can, and to be actively involved with their babies. One day those mothers will come out of prison, and if they have had no bonding with their babies, how can we expect them to suddenly become good mothers? How are their babies supposed to react to the stranger they have not seen or, if they have, have seen only once a week? That is not the way in which we bring up children, and clearly that will not establish bonding. So it is incredibly important that we accept that this bill is not about punishing people; it is about helping babies.

Progress to be reported presently.

House resumed.

The Chairperson reported progress on the Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Bill, and no progress on the Waste Minimisation Bill.

Report adopted.

The House adjourned at 9.56 p.m.