Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie says she doubts Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has the strength to hold her position against top male military figures and should step down from the role for the sake of her wellbeing.
“I have said in the past I am terribly concerned about her strength up against those men, especially the ones with the big military medals they’re wearing out there,” Ms Lambie told Sky News.
“I’ve said that right from the start, I’m not sure whether she actually had the strength to take them on and I still don’t believe that.
“Those men can be extremely overpowering if you don’t know how to handle them, that’s the environment in there, that’s the way it is”.
Asked who would be a suitable replacement for Ms Reynolds, Ms Lambie pointed to Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.
“I think that if I had my pick I’d have to put Peter Dutton in there to be honest, just from his background in policing, he’s a big guy, I don’t think you’d
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds faces an agonising question. Should she say to Scott Morrison that she doesn't feel up to staying in what is one of the most demanding portfolios in the government?
Linda Reynolds future is in her own hands | Canberra CityNews citynews.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from citynews.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
News by Samantha Maiden  Employment Minister Michaelia Cash reassured a Liberal staffer sleep tight after an incident in a minister s office, pledging to her in a voicemail message that her chief of staff had the issue under control . Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped at Parliament House in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds ministerial office by a colleague. Ms Higgins was just 24 at the time of the incident in March 2019 and only months into her dream job of working at parliament. The alleged incident threatened to explode in Senate estimates two years ago, prompting the voicemail from Senator Cash. Senator Cash has told news.com.au that she never knew the issue involved an alleged sexual assault at the time, only that it was an incident in Ms Reynolds office that Ms Higgins had informed her she preferred to keep secret at the time.