‘Nice haircut!’: Aussie voters offer cheeky retort to Independent MP Nicolette Boele

A prominent Independent who was forced to apologise for making a sexualised joke to a teenager has copped it in a big way.

Aussie voters are dishing it out to the Independent candidate who told a hairdresser that a scalp massage at her local hairdressing salon was better than sex by heckling, “Nice haircut!” at pre-poll booths.

Independent candidate for the battleground seat of Bradfield, Nicolette Boele (pronounced “Buller”), has been banned from a local hairdresser for the risque joke.

But in the dying days of the campaign the risque joke is coming back to haunt her with the Liberals driving trucks around the electorate highlighting the issue.

A large sign has been parked on the road leading a voting centre in Gordon. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Independent for Bradfield Nicolette Boele. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

Volunteers have told news.com.au that cheeky voters have been mouthing off at posters of Ms Boele at pre-poll stations.

But the taunt hasn’t pleased everyone with some volunteers at the pre-poll booth complaining about the sledging.

News.com.au has contacted Ms Boele’s team for comment.

The bizarre election campaign controversy exploded in the leafy suburbs of the federal electorate located on Sydney’s north shore in late March.

The seat is currently held by Liberal Paul Fletcher, who announced last year he would not be running for re-election in a field including the high-profile independent.

2GB radio’s Ben Fordham revealed Ms Boele’s campaign had hit a snag over racy comments she made to a teenage hairdresser.

“Now, this is a bizarre one,” Fordham said.

“A candidate at the upcoming federal election has apologised for making a comment about sex in front of a teenager.

“And we’re told that she’s been banned from a local hairdresser as a result.”

Fordham said when he first read the email tipping him off about the issue: “We thought, ‘oh, this won’t be true’, but it turns out there’s some truth to it because she’s now apologised.

“The email says Nicolette Boele has been banned from her local hairdresser for sexual comments made to staff.

“They sent her a legal letter last week as the owner wants to protect the young, vulnerable staff.

“The comments were made after her hair was washed and they were directed at a 19-year-old girl.

“She allegedly said that was amazing and I didn’t even have sex with you.”

It’s not known if she was referring to a head massage or simply getting shampooed and conditioned.

But the comments by the middle-aged woman left the teenage hairdresser alarmed.

The salon in question in Gordon, on Sydney's north shore. Picture: Instagram/EnvyRoomSalon

“The listener says, if that was a man saying that there would and should be an investigation, so why should a woman get away with this?”,’’ Fordham said.

Fordham then revealed the person who tipped off the show found out about the controversy because his own wife gets her hair cut at the salon.

“My wife is a customer at the hairdressers, so I want to point out that this is in no way politically motivated,” he reassured his listeners.

“I’m not a member of any political party, but I do live in the seat of Bradfield.

“So that’s the allegation. The independent candidate for Bradfield, Nicolette Boele cracked a racy joke at the hairdressers and as a result, she’s been banned.”

In a statement, the independent pledged to “do better.”

“It was a poor attempt at humour and I’ve apologised. Everyone deserves to feel respected in their workplace and I’ll do better,” Ms Boele told new.com.au.

The drama unfolded at the Envy Room salon in Gordon, which bills itself as offering cuts that are “a work of art.”

“At Envy Room we don’t just cut and colour hair,” the website states.

Originally published as ‘Nice haircut!’: Aussie voters offer cheeky retort to Independent MP Nicolette Boele