I was contacted regarding this particular case on new years day in my role
as manager of Nursing mothers' Associations Breastfeeding Consultancy
Services, who is currently negotiating with CROWN in Melbourne to become a
mother friendly workplace. Certainly I can understand the anger of this
mother and her friends by being treated in this way! It is inexcusable to
say the least. However, security guards at Crown are contract workers and
not directly employed by Crown. He was absolutely INCORRECT in saying that
it is Crowns policy that women can only breastfeed in the baby care room.
This is not so. Crown is in fact working very hard to support the comfort
of all who visit, including breastfed babies. The only area that babies are
not allowed, or children under 18 years for that matter, is the gaming
areas - this is a point of law. Crown has set up a wonderful baby care area
for mothers and fathers to use if they wish to use a private area - some do
want the privacy. This is purely a personal choice. Breastfeeding mothers
are welcome anywhere else they wish to be (except the gaming areas as I
said). I have spoken to the Crowns executives on this matter and they will
issue a memo to the head of security to ensure that all guards are aware
that this type of discrimination is unacceptable. The Crown executives I
spoke to were appalled that this occurred!
BREASTFED BABIES ARE WELCOME AT CROWN!