MPs with kids should work from home, Melinda Pavey declares

As Nationals MP Melinda Pavey prepares to hang up her cap, the mum of two has highlighted a major change which could see more women encouraged into politics.

When National Party MP Melinda Pavey left home to travel to Sydney for work, her then baby daughter Emily would sometimes stand up in her cot and scream “mummy don’t go”.

Her toddler’s wailing through the window at 5am would leave the Oxley MP in tears as she disappeared from the family’s Coffs Harbour home for yet another week of work.

Mrs Pavey entered NSW parliament three weeks after giving birth to her now
20-year-old daughter.

Today, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the former water, roads, housing, maritime, freight and property Minister is calling time on her parliamentary career.

Her next move remains a mystery.

NSW MP Melinda Pavey pictured with her daughter Emily. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

On her way out, the country’s longest serving sitting National MP is calling for major changes to reflect what she says is an overwhelming desire in the community for more female leaders.

“We need to show we’re serious and have a female leader in the NSW and federal National Party,” the former journalist and small business owner said.

Ms Pavey pictured with Emily as a baby. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“It needs to happen. You are what you see.”

“I hope, I know one day it will come. I believe that the odds are better if we have more women in parliament. We just need a better balance.”

Of the 18 National Party elected representatives in NSW parliament, five are women (27 per cent female).

This compares to 29 per cent for the Liberals and 39 cent for Labor.

Federally, three of the 14 Nats are female (21 per cent), while in federal Labor the women outnumber the blokes.

Mrs Pavey stopped short of recommending quotas, however, saying preselections driven by grassroots campaigns would inevitably glean more female candidates.

Ms Pavey ( pictured with former premier Gladys Berejiklian) is keen to see more women enter parliament.

“The travel and the distance away for National Party MPs for both men and women is more problematic than for city based MPs,” she said.

“People look at it and go, ‘I can’t be away from my family and my kids for two-thirds of the year’.

“We probably don’t need to be physically in parliament as much as we are. We can actually do it remotely as we’ve been able to do during Covid.

“That could be a significant game changer for women coming from the country.”

Mrs Pavey said she swapped traditional breadwinner roles with her husband Warren, who she credits with helping ensure Emily and brother Jack “never missed out on sport”.

In what is fast becoming a flood of Coalition MPs heading for the door before the March state election, Mrs Pavey joins fellow Nationals MPs Chris Gulaptis and Stephen Bromhead. Liberals Geoff Lee, Victor Dominello and Gabrielle Upton are also vacating their seats, while Cities Minister Rob Stokes and Health Minister Brad Hazzard are rumoured to be considering a move away from Macquarie Street.

The state’s parliament has been rocked by the recent Broderick report into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.

The report detailed multiple reports of miscounduct inside NSW Parliament. Picture: Monique Harmer

It revealed “sexual harassment and everyday sexism occur at unacceptable rates” and that “bullying is a significant issue across Parliamentary workplaces
in NSW”.

Five people in the NSW parliament have experienced an actual or attempted sexual assault in parliament.

So would she recommend uni student Emily or ADF member Jack go into politics?

“If they decided to do that – having seen it warts and all – that’s a decision for them,” she said, adding there’ll be no nepotism.

“The only uncomfortable things I’ve had is what people would say behind your back or point at you and make accusations.

“But I’m not a wilting lily. I think (the Broderick report) is the moment where we can reflect on our own behaviours and the people we preselect is there. It’s a wake up call for us all.”

Ms Pavey said it will be up to her children to decide if they follow in her footsteps. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mrs Pavey lost a bruising leadership battle last year, with Paul Toole emerging Nationals leader and Deputy Premier, and MLC Bronnie Taylor being appointed his deputy.

When Mrs Pavey was asked if she had the support of the other women in the parliamentary party she avoided the question by saying, “you don’t want to know how sausages are made”.

She counts securing the Pacific Highway dual carriageway as part of her biggest achievements, saying “53 people are alive every year” because of the government’s upgrades.

She is also proud of settling a record number of Aboriginal land claims during her tenure.

“I was reminded just recently you don’t have to be in parliament to contribute to make things better,” Ms Pavey said.

“This gave me a clear line of thought that it’s time to go and do something else, but still contribute and still help and still be part of the mid-north coast.”