SBS News, 20 September 2026

As a new mother and the sole parliamentary representative of Australia’s Voice, Senator Fatima Payman says she has limited party resources and support to draw on as she returns to work.

Fatima Payman is the first WA senator to have a baby while serving in parliament. Her experience comes after years of scrutiny of the parliamentary workplaces and whether they are equipped to accommodate people with caring responsibilities.

“They told me they would be able to take three to four months of complete maternity leave, and that’s a luxury not afforded to independent senators.”“

“A 2022 report by UNSW Sydney and Pathways to Politics for Women examined the barriers facing parliamentarians with caring responsibilities, noting that women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid care work.

The report warned that if parliament could not reconcile caring responsibilities with its democratic duties, women could be discouraged from entering politics or remaining in parliament long-term.

It proposed five changes to make parliament more “care-friendly”, including changes to sitting hours and the parliamentary calendar, formal parental leave for politicians, greater access to childcare and more use of virtual proceedings.

Some of those changes are now visible inside parliament, from childcare facilities to the rules governing babies in the chambers.”