Pregnant federal MPs have warned they risk being shut out of parliamentary discussions because of the failure to agree on virtual participation with video-conferencing technology when Parliament returns later this month.
The MPs warn the lack of flexibility reflects a structural problem that makes federal politics less inclusive than the private sector and deprives women and young people of representation in Canberra.
Labor MP Kate Thwaites, who represents the Melbourne seat of Jagajaga, warned she would not be able to participate in the upcoming parliamentary session because she was not able to travel to Canberra for the required two weeks of quarantine.
"I have got some medical appointments for my pregnancy coming up this week, which means I need to be in Melbourne. I can't be in quarantine in Canberra," she said.
Click here to read the full article published by Brisbane Times on 16 August 2020.
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