A group of Teal Independents have branded the parliamentary debate as aggressive and insulting and demanded greater respect for women in the House, sparking strong reactions from a political commentator.
Independent North Sydney MP Kylea Tink first raised concerns about the behavior of politicians in Parliament during Question Time in a speech delivered last Thursday.
Ms Tink explains that she feels unsafe because of the ‘hostile’ and ‘aggressive’ behavior in the room and notes that this is not tolerated in any other workplace.
She has since been supported in her position by fellow Teal Independents Allegra Spender and Zoe Daniel.
Member for Wentworth, Ms Spender described Question Time as ‘very, very aggressive’.
Independent North Sydney MP Kylea Tink (pictured) raised concerns about the behavior of politicians in Parliament during Question Time last Thursday
“Yelling at each other is not a robust debate, that’s actually just abuse,” she said, as reported by News Corp.
Both women branded the questioning and behavior of male opposition MPs as ‘inappropriate’.
“Men hissing at women in the audience and making cutting remarks to women in the audience about what they are saying is completely inappropriate,” said Ms. Daniel, a member of Goldstein.
“I have a 16-year-old son, I’m shocked by what he might observe, the way people behave in that room and the example that is for our children.”
She is joined by fellow Teal Independents Allegra Spender and Zoe Daniel (both pictured)
But Sky News political commentator Liz Storer questioned why the trio chose a career in politics if they couldn’t tolerate a heated workplace.
‘These women are absolutely embarrassing. If you can’t beat the heat, leave Kuwait,” she said.
‘Why did you choose this type of work? We don’t want limp-wristed people getting together to hold hands and sing Kumbaya.”
‘We want power players, people who can debate, we want people who get excited when the issue calls for it. And here are these guys saying, ‘Oh, we can’t hack you at any point. It’s too aggressive.’
“For example, if you want to be weak and tearful, leave parliament.”
Ms Tink said in her speech last week that she had never experienced anything like the chaos in the House of Representatives in any other workplace.
Sky News presenter Liz Storer (pictured) questioned why the trio chose a career in politics if they couldn’t tolerate a heated workplace
Mrs. Tink was greeted with cheers and loud sighs as she stood, but by the time she finished speaking the room was unusually quiet.
“Yesterday I felt like my senses had been attacked,” the independent MP said.
She noted the behavior of an unnamed opposition MP, who she claimed was ‘aggressively shouting at me… his tone was hostile and his body language was aggressive’.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton later said he had spoken to the unnamed member about the heated exchange and was “satisfied” the matter had been resolved.
Initially, Ms. Tink was greeted with cheers and loud sighs when she stood, but by the time she finished speaking, the room was unusually quiet.
Ms Tink says she has considered whether she should address her concerns, fearing it would further inflame her colleagues.
“Mr. Speaker, if this was the first time I might have brushed it off, but it isn’t,” she said, noting that she had seen “many other women” in politics act in a similar way were treated.
“I’m not proud of the way my workplace was represented yesterday and honestly I didn’t feel safe.”
Yvette Vignando, chief executive of frontline gender-based violence service Mary’s House Services, also called the behavior unacceptable.
She explained that it is causing those involved in the domestic abuse sector to “hang their heads in despair” at the sight of the behavior being tolerated in Parliament.