Dr Sophie Scamps reveals ‘lightning bolt moment’ that prompted politics run

A teal independent who unseated a Liberal in a blue-ribbon seat has revealed the “lightning-bolt moment” that prompted her to give up medicine.

With no political history of her own, Sophie Scamps watched with wonder as the independent movement swept across the federal electorates of Indi and Warringah in previous elections.

In her maiden speech, delivered in Parliament House on Monday, Dr Scamps – who unseated moderate Liberal Jason Falinski in the NSW northern beaches electorate of Mackellar – said she had felt a sense of pride as the female independents “took on the political establishment and won”.

She felt even prouder knowing those women were acting with integrity as they fought for a better future for all Australians.

With the 2019 election looming, Dr Scamps said her own “lightning-bolt moment” came in the form of a 12-year-old friend of her son, Mathias.

“I have long been troubled about the impact that climate change will have on the health and wellbeing of children and future generations. This day, my son and his friends were asking me about climate change – and I responded – that they would one day need to act on it,” she said in her speech.

“Mathias looked up at me earnestly and said, ‘Yes, because you adults have failed us’.

“His comment found its target. I listened – and decided to act.”

Sophie Scamps (second from right) was sworn in alongside the seven other independents last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Dr Scamps said Australians had “already” been waiting for two decades for action on climate change, but she never imagined her decision to act would wind up with her in Canberra.

“I’m going to quote Gandalf – ‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to’,” she said.

“I urge you too to step onto the road and join me in this journey.”

In her speech, Dr Scamps said giving up her job as a GP, acclimatising herself to public speaking, as well as being away from her family, had been a lot to consider when running as a candidate.

Dr Scamps is the fifth person to hold the seat of Mackellar since it was founded in 1949. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Now that she is in Canberra, she says climate change is one of her biggest priorities, and she will always act with the Mackellar constituents at front of mind.

“I believe that if we do listen, if we act and if we take the community with us, we can prevent the worst impacts of climate change and we can grasp the window of opportunity to lead the world in the clean technology revolution,” she said.

“But we must act now.”

Dr Scamps has also committed to ensuring integrity in parliament and better health and mental health care.

She also paid tribute to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Voice to Parliament and the Makarratta – truth telling – as being “generous invitations” from Australia’s First Nations people for “us to listen and to heal”.

“After more than 200 years, I hope that Australia is finally ready to listen,” she said.