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Kylea Tink says she doesn't feel safe in Parliament

A Sydney politician claims she feels unsafe in Parliament where “hostile” and “aggressive” comments are made by male MPs during question time.

Well, you know the old saying: If you can’t take the heat, get back in the kitchen. Or something like that.

North Sydney Teal MP Kylea Tink complained about question time yesterday that ..

“It was incredibly aggressive, it was volatile it was loud.”

Other people call it debate.

“All of my senses were already heightened,” she said.

Honestly, politics is probably not a career for sensitive types needing cuddles.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Tink became emotional in her speech to parliament as she asked the Speaker of the House to provide guidance on how MPs should behave.

“(I am) someone who has worked in a number of different environments over the last few years, many of which have been male-dominated,” she said.

Women now comprise 38 per cent of Parliament. That’s higher than the Government’s primary vote at the last election. But I digress.

“The most confronting experience took place for me yesterday, when a member from the Opposition, while returning to my seat (began) yelling at me aggressively and at others on the crossbench.

A member of the Opposition yelled aggressively at her, and at others.

Okay. That’s never happened in the history of Parliament.

Karen, er, Kylea continued …

“He aggressively challenged my voting decision referring to my testimony I had provided two nights earlier to a procedural committee into standing orders during which I’d expressed a desire to see questions answered more directly.

Her voting decision was “challenged”?

The outrage!

“His tone was hostile and his body language was aggressive.”

His tone.

His body language.

Is Ms Tink in Parliament, or in primary school?

“To the best of my recollections his words were, ‘Where were you today then? You say you want clear answers, that was your chance and where were you’,” she said. 

Um, is it me? Or are those the most hurty words ever spoken in the history of the Westminster System.

Find the man who said them and have him hung, drawn and quartered.

“Quite frankly, I did not feel safe.”

Well, of course Ms Tink didn’t feel safe. If you define “safe” as having everyone speak to you in dulcet, agreeable tones … she wasn’t safe at all.

The irony is that Ms Tink was advocating for her colleagues to answer questions more directly. Then, when asked a direct question - “where were you today then? - she ignored it, claimed to have been bullied and proceeded to pull out the smallest violin since Ant Man performed at the Conservatorium of Music.

Ms Tink’s record in Parliament since being elected is pretty impressive.

In 2022 she was found to have owned a substantial number of shares in fossil fuel companies after running for office promising to fight climate change.

And now, in 2023, she claims people who disagree with her are meanies

I can hardly wait to see what she accomplishes for the people of North Sydney in 2024.

Does Ms Tink believe that no-one was yelled at before female MPs got into Parliament House?

Does Ms Tink believe that only men are aggressive? Say hello Lidia Thorpe! Say hello Labor ‘Mean Girls’.

Time for a glass of concrete, Ms Tink.