>Australian Lactnetters, I have just read this morning (Fri 15 Jan 99) in
>"The Australian" newspaper that the Young Liberal Party (which is the
>younger members of the Liberal Party - the ruling party in Australia at
>present) is having a convention to debate such issues as ON THE SPOT FINES
>FOR BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC !!!!!!!!

The following was on the ABC news website:
>http://www.abc.net.au/news/99/01/14/990114_110.htm
>
>
>Young Libs flesh out conference agenda  Thu, 14 Jan 1999
>
>
> A proposal to fine women who breastfeed in public will be
> debated at the Young Liberals' convention on the Gold Coast this
> weekend.
>
>  Delegates will also consider whether strip-shows should be banned.
>
> A motion to be put to convention by a Brisbane branch of the
>Young Liberals suggests on-the-spot fines for women who
> breastfeed babies in public places other than designated areas
> such as parenting rooms.
>
> The future of strip shows will also be debated, as will a proposal
> to force drivers over the age of 65 to wear "G" plates on their
>cars and undergo licence testing every second year.
>
> On a lighter note, the convention will also consider calls for all
> members of Parliament to wear Star Trek-style uniforms when
>  they are in the chamber.
>
>  The uniforms would display a parliamentarians rank with the
>  Liberals naturally wearing a blue uniform, and the National Party
>   being decked out in bottle green.

Now, I will stick my neck out and say that I don't believe that this means
anything with regard to political decisions, etc. *None* of these issues
would make sense - I think it is the Young Libs (ie *not* politicians, just
a group of young people who support the political party) practising their
debating skills and having a bit of fun. I think the media have picked it
up and 'been taken for a ride'!

A fact to bear in mind here is that Queensland has specific legislation in
place that prohibits discrimination of breastfeeding mothers - not just on
the basis of gender, *specifically breastfeeding mothers*. Another reason
it doesn't make sense.

******************************************************************
Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
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