Penny Wong blasts SA Liberal MP Nicolle Flint’s ‘sexist campaign’ claims
Labor Senator Penny Wong has hit back over comments she failed to condemn the stalking of Liberal MP Nicolle Flint, who earlier revealed the incident had been one of the “scariest experiences” of her life.
SA News
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Labor Senator Penny Wong has hit back against the claim that she failed to condemn the stalking of a South Australian Liberal MP.
Boothby MP Nicolle Flint took aim at Senator Wong on Monday during a parliamentary inquiry into the 2019 federal election.
Ms Flint recounted one of the “scariest experiences of her life”, alleging she was stalked and photographed by a man during the campaign.
Senator Wong had campaigned in Boothby with Labor candidate Nadia Clancy.
“Nowhere can I find her (Senator Wong) condemning the behaviour of the stalker and condemning the disgusting sexist and misogynistic vandalism of my campaign office,” Ms Flint said.
But in a fiery response, the senior frontbencher hit back.
“Ms Flint continues to insist the inappropriate behaviour of an individual was part of a co-ordinated sexist campaign against her,” Senator Wong said.
“This has no basis in fact.”
Senator Wong said she spoke out in August when Ms Flint “has actually been the subject of sexist criticism”.
“I look forward to similar support from Ms Flint the next time I am subject to abuse for being Asian, gay or a woman,” Senator Wong said.
“Ms Flint should now meet her own standards and publicly condemn the behaviour of her close friend, ally and campaign manager Sam Duluk, who she continues to campaign with despite him being charged with assaulting a woman in state parliament.”
Mr Duluk, a former state Liberal MP, was charged in April after he allegedly assaulted fellow MP Connie Bonaros at a parliamentary Christmas party.
Clarence Gardens resident Dave Walsh received a stalking caution from SA Police after he was reported for taking photos of Ms Flint but was not charged with an offence.
Mr Walsh, who died in the past year, denied ever being a member of the political activist group GetUp, which Ms Flint claims targeted her in the lead-up to the election.
Mr Duluk is due to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on October 6.
Ms Flint choked up on Monday as she warned a parliamentary committee that people would be discouraged from running for governments if they feared they might be subject to “disgusting attacks”.
“The abuse, aggression, stalking, misogynistic and bullying behaviour and vandalism,” she said.
“I want to ensure that no future candidates, or MP, whether they are male or female … has to go through what I went through.”
Ms Flint said being stalked at the Blackwood Community Centre, in Adelaide’s foothills, was one of the “scariest experiences on my life” because the behaviour was so “extreme and intimidating and shocking”.
“GetUp worked in unison with the stalker, who targeted me for the five months leading up to the election,” Ms Flint said, adding Labor and the unions also personally attacked her.
SA Liberal MP Tony Pasin grilled GetUp over a campaign tactic, which he alleged involved following candidates, and asked if it took responsibility for the stalking experienced by Ms Flint at the election.
GetUp spokesman Zaahir Edries denied any involvement.
“Any stalking behaviour is terrible and no we wouldn’t take responsibility,” he said.
“There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that GetUp or any of its members were behind any of these horrible behaviours.”
A terse exchange between SA Labor Senator Marielle Smith and Ms Flint followed, with Senator Smith asked if a review would take place in Flinders where Julia Banks ran after quitting the Liberal Party.