Photos: Andrew Campbell
ELIZABETH Lee, 43, says she is definitely in a newborn bubble, as baby Ava celebrates her first week at home.
The ACT opposition leader’s partner, Nathan Hansford, says they’re doing well considering all things, with Elizabeth adding: “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“A lot of people say it is easier the second time around, but I don’t know,” says Elizabeth.
“With the first one you didn’t know what to expect, so you just take everything as it comes, with the second one you know there are ups and downs, but we’re also transitioning Mia into her older-sister role.”
But, older sister Mia, 3, “adores baby Ava”, affectionately referring to her sister as “Strawberry”, and on her return from childcare, immediately asking where her baby is.
Elizabeth says she couldn’t do any of it without the support of Nathan and her family.
“Nathan does more of the night time wake ups, he’s more of a night owl, which helps,” she says.
“On our third night at home, I fed Ava at about 10.30pm and went to bed at almost midnight, and when I woke up I freaked out because it was 4am. I thought I’d missed the 1am feeding, but I had a text message from Nathan saying he had fed her. Obviously he’d got up and I hadn’t even noticed, I needed the sleep, clearly.
“Mum came down from Sydney, too, the week I went into labour, she made lots of home-cooked meals, my blood glucose levels were better than they had been throughout the entire pregnancy, and she would massage my feet and just make sure I was as relaxed as possible.”
Nathan’s extended family live in Canberra, too, so there is no shortage of support, even from Elizabeth’s colleagues in the Legislative Assembly.
“Obviously I have support from acting leader Jeremy Hanson and the rest of the Canberra Liberals MLA team, but also from the MLAs from across the political spectrum,” she says.
“When I first found out I was pregnant I had all these good intentions about being back at work before the budget, and everyone said that only gave me six weeks.
“As the pregnancy progressed, I realised this will be my last pregnancy and baby. I decided that I should, and wanted to, and had the right to make the most of it, and to give my time to my second daughter.”
So, Elizabeth submitted a notice to the Assembly speaker, which allows 18 weeks of maternity leave, meaning she aims to return to work around mid-August.
“The ACT Legislative Assembly has always led the way in terms of being very family friendly, and a lot of credit for that goes to former chief minister Katy Gallagher,” she says.
“As a minister, [she] took maternity leave and made sure there was a culture of family friendly hours for both men and women.”
Not only was Elizabeth the first leader of a political party in Australia from an Asian background, but she believes she is also the first leader of a political party in Australia to take maternity leave.
“It really puts in context how inaccessible public life and politics has been for working mums, so if I can set a good example and set a precedent that’s a good thing,” she says.
Elizabeth says that when the next election is due, in October 2024, Mia will be 5, Ava will be 18 months, and she will be in the throes of school starting and toddling around, so she’s sure to have her hands full.
“But I’ve got great support, I have no doubt that I have what it takes to be chief minister in 2024,” she says.
“There’s certainly an air of dissatisfaction with the current Labor-Greens government. There’s no surprises that we have focused on the tram and the major failings in health, education, community services and housing
“I think most Canberans can see these issues are in dire need of a complete overhaul, and no amount of reviews or spin from this current government will change that.
“I know that I can’t be the type of mum that will hand make lunches every day and turn up to canteen duty, or do volunteering at school, and will my children miss out because of that? Perhaps.
“But I also hope that I’m setting a good example for my girls, that women can do whatever they set their minds to and they can play leadership roles and make a lasting contribution. Hopefully, I can set an example for my girls, and that’s the best thing a parent can hope for.”
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