Name: Liberal MP Nicolle Flint wears a bin bag to call out 'sexist rubbish' after column describes her clothing choices - ABC News
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Liberal MP Nicolle Flint wears a bin bag to call out 'sexist rubbish' after column describes her clothing choices - ABC News

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Liberal MP Nicolle Flint wears a bin bag to call out 'sexist rubbish' after column describes her clothing choicesShareA female politician has donned a garbage bag to call out what she says is the sexist "rubbish" women in politics are forced to put up with.In the minute-long video, , South Australian Liberal MP Nicolle Flint lists off a series of incidents she's endured since entering federal politics, including being targeted by a male stalker and having her campaign office defaced with "skank" and "prostitute".She also criticises male commentator Mike Carlton who, during an episode of Q+A, tweeted that panellist and singer Jimmy Barnes had "shown great restraint by not leaping from his seat and strangling [Nicolle]".But Ms Flint appears to have drawn the line on Sunday when another commentator, and ABC radio host, Peter Goers, wrote a column criticising the glossy brochures issued by MPs, at taxpayers' expense, to their constituents.Mr Goers mentioned other South Australian Liberals, including "king of the open-necked shirt, David Basham", but reserved his most detailed observations for Ms Flint, her "pearl earrings and a pearly smile" and "vast wardrobe of blazers, coats and tight, black, ankle-freezing trousers and stiletto heels".Wearing those very stilettos and black, ankle-freezing trousers, Ms Flint ends the video by posing the question: "So Mr Goers, what should a woman in politics wear?""How about a garbage bag to match your rubbish views," she says, while removing her black coat to reveal a grey bin bag cinched with a black belt.Federal MPs are given tens of thousands of dollars each year, some of which can be used for printed material.Almost immediately, her post drew praise from female politicians across the aisle, including Labor's Anika Wells who tweeted "I'm with Nicolle Flint"."The standards expected of women politicians are garbage," she said."Be authentic but appeal widely. Be charming but don't try too hard. Confident, but modest ya know?"Another Labor MP, Madeline King, also took to Twitter to declare: "I stand with Nicolle Flint," saying the kind of sexist rubbish she had copped belong "in the bin".Women in politics have long complained about the double standards to which they are held — particularly when it comes to appearance — but many are reluctant to, or tired of speaking out about it.Ms Flint is from the conservative wing of the Liberal Party, which is typically even more hesitant to discuss their experience as female MPs, fearing they'll either be defined by it, or raise eyebrows among often male-dominated pre-selection committees.But the public examples of sexism in politics are endless.From Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young's "slut-shaming" defamation case against former senator David Leyonhjelm, to former Prime Minister Tony Abbott pointing out the "sex appeal" of then-candidate Fiona Scott and Liberal Don Randall accusing then-Democrat Cheryl Kernot of "having the morals of an alley cat".Australia's first female prime minister Julia Gillard suffered years of negative commentary about the fit of her jackets, her hairstyle, the tone of her voice, even her decision to not have children.One of her fiercest critics, right-wing commentator Alan Jones, suggested putting Ms Gillard into a "chaff bag" and throwing her out to sea and after the death of her father, claimed he had "died of shame".Mr Jones also appeared at anti-carbon tax rallies outside Parliament House where protesters held up placards which read "Ditch the Witch" and "Bob Brown's bitch".In the years since, the ranks of women in Parliament have been bolstered — mainly on the Labor side — which has helped shift the tone of debate but it has certainly has not settled it.Ms Flint, who is 42, and Ms Wells, 34, are from different states and different parties, and sit on opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, but their intervention strongly suggests the next generation of women in politics won't cop such "sexist rubbish" silently.Mr Goers has been contacted for comment.27 Jul 202027 Jul 2020Mon 27 Jul 2020 at 10:01am, 27 Jul 202027 Jul 2020Mon 27 Jul 2020 at 11:34pmMore on:

Liberal MP Nicolle Flint wears a bin bag to call out 'sexist rubbish' after column describes her clothing choicesShareA female politician has donned a garbage bag to call out what she says is the sexist "rubbish" women in politics are forced to put up with.In the minute-long video, , South Australian Liberal MP Nicolle Flint lists off a series of incidents she's endured since entering federal politics, including being targeted by a male stalker and having her campaign office defaced with "skank" and "prostitute".She also criticises male commentator Mike Carlton who, during an episode of...

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Liberal MP Nicolle Flint wears a bin bag to call out 'sexist rubbish' after column describes her clothing choices - ABC News

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