Former Liberal Boothby MP Nicolle Flint to recontest federal politics in old seat

Former federal MP Nicolle Flint is about to formally confirm her political comeback, as two right-wing powerbrokers throw their weight behind her.

Prominent former federal MP Nicolle Flint will conquer a sexist barrage that ousted her from politics to recontest her old seat of Boothby.

It is understood Ms Flint, who held the southwestern Adelaide federal seat from 2016-22, will formally nominate for Liberal preselection on Wednesday.

Ms Flint, who had considered a tilt at the South East state seat of MacKillop, has declared her heart is in the marginal electorate of Boothby.

In a remarkable return after abruptly quitting federal politics in 2021 citing burnout, abuse, harassment and significant health issues, Ms Flint is insisting her physical and mental health have never been better after winning a long-running battle with endometriosis.

The-then Boothby MP Nicolle Flint in 2020, wearing a garbage bag dress in her electoral office to highlight sexism.

Her conservative ally Alex Antic.

“I am a new person. I look back and I literally feel like I have only ever operated at 50 per cent of my capacity. And, all of a sudden, I am at 100 per cent. So, look out world. I’m back,” she told FIVEaa’s Graham Cornes in an interview aired on March 25.

The Liberal state executive on Tuesday opened nominations for Boothby preselection, declaring they will close on April 2.

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Internal critics say Ms Flint is likely to overwhelm any preselection rivals but argue her conservative views are not suited to the electorate.

She is backed by SA conservative factional powerbrokers Tony Pasin and Alex Antic, who are deploying numbers from an influx of like-minded membership recruits to shape preselection contests.

The-then Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and Dr Rachel Swift (left) look on in November, 2021, as the-then Boothby MP Nicolle Flint speaks during a tour of Micro X at the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

But their efforts to replace Ms Flint, now a SkyNews contributor, with a conservative in 2021 were rebuffed by the rival Moderate faction, which installed Dr Rachel Swift – she was defeated by Labor at the 2022 federal election.

Ms Flint’s move will inflame internal Liberal tension, which state leader David Speirs on Monday said he wanted to douse with formalised factions, like Labor’s.

His call follows former federal cabinet minister Anne Ruston being deposed from top spot on the Liberal Senate ticket by Senator Antic.

Nicolle Flint on her family farm, near Kingston, in August, 2023. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Member for Barker Tony Pasin.

Moderate powerbrokers say there is no concerted effort to promote a preselection rival for Ms Flint, pointing out she has strong name recognition and community connections.

But they caution she will need to be confident she can overcome a fierce campaign likely to be waged against her from Labor and the Left at the next federal election, expected early next year.

Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost defeated Dr Swift with 53.28 per cent to 46.72 per cent of the two-party preferred vote at the 2022 federal election.