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New Zealand's speaker babysits MP's newborn during debate

New Zealand's speaker babysits MP's newborn during debate

“There are times when I can be vaguely useful,” said Trevor Mallard who often helps take care for lawmakers’ babies.
22 Aug, 2019

New Zealand's parliament had a special guest on the chamber floor, and it was none other than a newborn baby.

The country's parliamentary speaker Trevor Mallard cradled the one-month-old son of lawmaker Tāmati Coffey while presiding over a debate and it doesn't get any better than that.

The speaker even tweeted about the adorable incident.

“There are times when I can be vaguely useful,” Mallard told Reuters and added that he tries to help take care for lawmakers’ babies whenever possible.

The baby was cuddled by his father in the debating chamber on Wednesday when the speaker offered to hold him instead; hardly surprising as Mallard is the one who relaxed rules in 2017 to make parliament more child-friendly.

The MP proudly holding his newborn son
The MP proudly holding his newborn son

"About a dozen MPs have had infants in a parliamentary baby boom, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last year became New Zealand’s first premier to take maternity leave and the world’s second elected leader to give birth in office", reported Reuters.

Mallard is a political veteran, and a father of three adult children, with six grandchildren.

“What I’ve found is that it adds to the positive atmosphere of the workplace. When there’s a baby to be carried in.. there’s a fair bit of competition to do the job,” the speaker added.

Meanwhile, one member in our own assembly session held in Balochistan was asked to leave because she bought her six-month-old along. It's high time that our own Parliament members learn from speakers like Mallard and make such platforms more parent-friendly.

Comments

Fahad Amir Aug 22, 2019 05:10pm
This is humanity and class
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responsibele Aug 22, 2019 05:42pm
Such a high moral parliament.
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Parvez Aug 22, 2019 07:26pm
Lovely pictures .....
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ahmed Aug 22, 2019 07:56pm
Great! NZ is a compassionate and loving country. An example to follow.
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Zubair Aug 22, 2019 08:20pm
What a fine act to show natural love for young ones
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Tariq Aug 22, 2019 10:39pm
Excellent to see and make feel pleasant.
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Najma Hisham Aug 23, 2019 07:04am
fantastic. that is so human.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Aug 25, 2019 01:08pm
Family values and true democracy go hand in glove.
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