Premier offers breast feeding solution

Premier Colin Barnett has moved to head off controversy over breastfeeding in Parliament by guaranteeing new mum and Labor MP Rita Saffioti will be automatically "paired" with a Liberal if she has to leave the chamber to feed her baby.

The move means the Labor Party would not be disadvantaged in key votes in the Lower House should Ms Saffioti be away from the chamber while caring for her eight-week-old daughter Grace.

Mr Barnett said yesterday that Parliament was not a pleasant place for a baby to be but as a principal he supported working mothers. "If she should happen to be feeding her child then I give her the understanding that we would step aside from the vote," Mr Barnett said.