Retiring Boothby MP Nicolle Flint wants a ‘strong’ Liberal woman to replace her

Outgoing federal MP Nicolle Flint’s shock retirement highlighted the pressure on female politicians. Now she’s spoken about her replacement.

Outgoing Boothby MP Nicolle Flint, whose shock retirement announcement highlighted the pressure on female politicians, wants a “strong woman” to replace her in the southwestern Adelaide federal seat.

Speaking exclusively to The Advertiser about the Liberal preselection contest to replace her, Ms Flint said she hoped the new candidate might go on to become a Minister.

It is understood Prime Minister Scott Morrison has demanded the Liberals’ conservative and moderate groups endorse female candidates in the preselection contest, for which nominations close on March 29.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Boothby MP Nicolle Flint in 2019. (AAP Image/David Mariuz)

Infectious diseases expert Dr Rachel Swift is understood to be considering putting herself forward, despite last month being preselected in fourth spot on the Liberal Senate ticket, while education executive Leah Blyth also is being considered.

‘I hope we find a candidate with strong community links, who will work very hard for our local area, and who has future ministerial potential,” Ms Flint said.

“I would love to see another strong woman replace me, but that is entirely a decision for our Boothby Liberal Party members.

“They will decide who is the best person to represent our local community.”

Liberal conservatives are understood to be very strongly considering support for Ms Blyth, a former admissions director at Pembroke and Adelaide University head of student services.

State Environment Minister David Speirs has yet to rule out speculation about him attempting to move to federal politics.

Outgoing federal Liberal MP Nicolle Flint last year. Picture: Keryn Stevens

However, Premier Steven Marshall is presiding over a minority government and is unlikely to want a by-election to replace Mr Speirs should he have to contest a federal election later this year.

Ms Flint, who was first elected in 2016, last Friday revealed her shock decision to retire at the next election, saying she would “continue to work hard to serve my local community” until then.

She was stalked and labelled a slut and prostitute during the 2019 election campaign, during which Senate Leader Simon Birmingham later said she was a “particular target for certain Greens and left activists”.

Attacks on Nicolle Flint during the 2019 Federal election campaign. Eggs thrown at her campaign office.

Her shock retirement announcement means Liberals are expecting a wide field of preselection candidates, none of whom have had time to position as favourite.

It is understood Ms Blyth went to school and university in the electorate.

The Advertiser has been told Dr Swift has had approaches from the moderates and some conservatives, which she is considering.

Her Senate preselection booklet says she grew up in Urrbrae, on Boothby’s northeastern tip and next to the Waite Institute, where her father was CSIRO soils chief.

Another name being floated is Jack Batty, a former Christopher Pyne staffer now working in London as an adviser to Australian High Commissioner George Brandis.

Mr Batty, who ran against former premier Jay Weatherill in the 2014 state election in Cheltenham, was Scotch College school captain in 2008 and his family lives in Boothby.