Despite receiving more than a quarter of Senator Cory Bernardi’s 2016 election war-chest, first-time Liberal MP Nicolle Flint has pledged she was elected as a Liberal Member and "will continue fighting for my community as their Liberal Member of Parliament".
Senator Bernardi gave $25,000 from the pool of donations he personally received in the lead up to last year’s election to the campaign of Ms Flint in the South Australian electorate of Boothby.
The seat was vacated by the political retirement of Andrew Southcott.
In a statement provided to SBS News, Ms Flint said: “My thoughts on party loyalty are well known. When you stand for a party you owe your voters, your party members and your party your loyalty. I am heart-broken by Senator Bernardi’s decision, as I was when (former state Liberal leader) Martin Hamilton-Smith deserted our Party after the 2014 State Election.”
She also referenced a 2014 column she had written about how Mr Hamilton-Smith's move "shattered trust" of voters.
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Ms Flint did not clarify the circumstances around Senator Bernardi's $25,000 donation.
Senator Bernardi said he donated to Ms Flint's campaign "for the same reason I donated a great deal of money to the Senate campaign which was funded by individual Senators".
"I wanted to work as positively and constructively to support the work of centre-right governments," he said.
"Now unfortunately the result of the election wasn't all that we wanted it to be, and things have got worse since then."
Unlike his South Australian Liberal Senate candidate colleagues, Senator Bernardi lodged a detailed candidate return for the election with the Australian Electoral Commission.
At the foot of the form, he noted the South Australian Liberal Party advised him to lodge an individual candidate return “as no agent was appointed for me”. This note also included pledges made by Senator Bernardi during the campaign.
On May 16, 2016, he gave $25,000 to the Liberal campaign in Ms Flint’s seat of Boothby.
On May 24, Senator Bernardi pledged $5000 to the unsuccessful Liberal campaign of suburban councillor Graham Reynolds in Makin.
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop (left) and Boothby MP Nicolle Flint. (AAP Image/Ben Macmahon) Source: AAP
And on June 7 he provided $500 for the Barker campaign, where Liberal MP Tony Pasin was seeking re-election.
Mr Bernardi personally raised more than $92,000 from 721 different donors and spent $55,000 on his own election advertising.
Senator Bernardi announced he was leaving the Liberal Party in an address to the Senate today. He said he plans to "put principle back into politics" and to pursue a "conservative way".
"The body politic is failing the people of Australia and it’s clear we need to find a better way," he said.
"I hope that those that are truly concerned about the future of our nation will join me."
Ms Flint and Senator Bernardi share other ties.
In 2015, Ms Flint wrote in a for 'The Adelaide Advertiser' about the book 'Fearless Leadership' which tells the story of the US Navy's first female fighter pilot, Carey Lohrenz.
"Her achievements remind women what they can do if they have the confidence to try. As countless studies, articles and books have found, women still hesitate to take promotions or grab opportunities, usually because they don’t think they’re 'ready'," she wrote.
"It’s a problem across all sectors, from the arts to journalism to business.
"And it’s something women can – and must – take responsibility for fixing. Lohrenz suggests how. It’s not a problem men can fix.
"But what men can do – and do all the time – is offer support, encouragement and opportunities.
"For example, Senator Cory Bernardi promotes Fearless Leadership, and gives it as a thoughtful gift."
Ms Flint did not confirm to SBS News whether Senator Bernardi gave her 'Fearless Leadership'.
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