Queensland mother told not to breastfeed in shopping centre ‘high-end’
A major Queensland shopping centre has apologised after telling a Gold Coast mother she couldn’t breastfeed her three-week-old son in a high-end area of the centre.
Mother of two Shannon Laverty claims she was nursing her newborn at Pacific Fair Broadbeach before being told by a concierge three times she should go to feeding “facilities” rather than feed in public.
“She came over right in my face abruptly and said, ‘There’s actually facilities for your information,” Ms Laverty told ABC Coast FM.
“This is our high-end part of Pacific Fair; if you’re not going to use the facility, I’m going to ask you to move on,” the concierge allegedly added.
Ms Laverty’s experience has divided social media, ranging from opinions supporting the mother of two to chastising anyone who “has a problem with” being asked to move on.
Kath Angus from the Australian Breastfeeding Association said the incident shows that more education needs to be done around breastfeeding.
“It’s a really disappointing reaction – I think you see a lot more breasts in some of the advertisements at average bus stops than you do when a mum is breastfeeding her baby at a shopping centre,” Ms Angus told 9News.
Pacific Fair has since apologised to Ms Laverty, with the altercation and order being called a “misunderstanding”, vowing to re-educate its staff.
“We’re really sorry we caused her any offence,” Centre General Manager Shaine Beveridge told 9News.
“Breastfeeding mums are welcome to feed whenever and wherever they want within the centre.”
The Centre has also revealed it is in negotiations with Ms Laverty, offering her six months of the centre valet to help make amends.
