Retiring Liberal MP Nicolle Flint says she will fight to make Parliament House safer for women before she leaves politics
Real change in Parliament House is possible, outgoing Liberal MP Nicolle Flint says, outlining ways to start to create a safer environment for women.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Nicolle Flint will fight to make Parliament House safer for women before she leaves politics and says real change is possible.
A booze ban is one of a range of sensible solutions that should be considered to clean up the culture, the Member for Boothby says.
“We need to consider everything,” Ms Flint told The Advertiser. “This is a conversation that must be had across politics. This is above politics.”
The South Australian Liberal MP, who last month announced her decision to leave politics, fought back tears on Tuesday night in a speech urging Opposition leader Anthony Albanese and Labor MPs to keep politics out of the issue.
“We have seen horrific claims from women across the political spectrum and we all have to work together to address the problems that we all have and that we all must fix,” Ms Flint said, speaking in her office on Wednesday.
“We all need to seize this historic moment in Australian life where women are all saying, ‘It’s not good enough, I haven’t felt safe’.
“These are nationwide issues that have to be addressed.”
Ms Flint hopes her words will lead to more bipartisanship, and said it was “very encouraging” to hear Mr Albanese condemn the harassment and stalking she experienced at the 2019 election on Wednesday.
All MPs should feel safe in their electorates, she said.
“If we’re not, Australians will lose the free and easy access that they have to MPs, which we have to protect no matter what.”
Ms Flint had urged her Coalition colleagues in a meeting on Tuesday to consider 10 suggestions to overhaul Parliament’s culture, which were outlined in a column in The Australian.
A booze ban for parliament and normal working hours, such as 9am-6pm instead of late-night sittings, were some of the suggestions, which Ms Flint said were “sensible".
“I have friends who work in the corporate sector … who have zero-tolerance alcohol policies in their organisations for safety reasons, so it’s doable,” she told The Advertiser.
Another option could be a 0.05 blood alcohol rule like driving a car, she said.
Scott Morrison indicated Ms Flint could have been a future minister if she had remained in politics.
His comments were “very kind” but they would not change her mind, she said.
“If I can leave this place having achieved these reforms, that would be a great legacy,” she said.
“Brittany Higgins being so incredibly brave to share her horrific story has started this and now it’s a movement, and all women want to see safer workplaces. If by my contribution I can help make that happen, I’ll be really proud.”
Earlier, Ms Flint had said on radio the SA Liberal moderates division could also have done more to support her, but she did not elaborate.
Join the conversation
Cancelled comic weighs in on Lib’s abortion bid ‘no-brainer’
The comedian who says she was dumped by two Adelaide pubs over her views on gender identity gave her verdict after performing at a women-only event.
Read more
The rubbish rule this council is using to slug locals $312
How quickly do you bring in your bins? It might not be fast enough for this Adelaide council. It’s been laying down the law before bringing in the bucks.
Read more