The Victorian Nationals MP for Mallee says her experience as a reference point for people concerned about the toxic workplace culture in Canberra matches the findings of the Jenkins report on bullying - women have a case to answer as well.
Her comments came the day after the Victorian Greens senator Lidia Thorpe alleged accused NSW Liberal senator Hollie Hughes of failing 'to keep her legs shut'.
Speaking with FlowNews24 on Friday morning from Canberra airport before departing Canberra, Dr Webster said:
"I read through the (Jenkins) report - I haven't read the entire report, just the first chapter on recommendations - it talked about the higher number of women who bully staff than men. If I read that correctly, I thought - wow - when people were coming to me as the Nats rep to talk to, and we wanted to do that early on, that was certainly the impression I got a well.
"Are more women in parliament the answer? Look it may be part of the answer,
Listen to the full interview on the FlowNews24 podcast here:
Liberal senator Hughes was left distraught after reportedly being told "At least I keep my legs shut", a day after a landmark report on parliament's culture.
Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has taken personal leave from parliament after reportedly telling a Liberal counterpart "At least I keep my legs shut".
While Senator Thorpe accepted her language was inappropriate and apologised unreservedly, she rejected claims the comment was directed at the autistic son of Liberal Hollie Hughes on the eve of the International Day of Disability. The Greens senator said in a Thursday statement:
"That characterisation of my interjection is completely untrue, and more importantly, harmful to every disabled person."
Senators were told the outspoken MP had taken a leave of absence for personal reasons.
Senator Hughes says she was dumbfounded to hear the comment during a debate in parliament on Wednesday but did not regard it as slut-shaming.
"What I took from it ... was had I kept my legs shut (then) I wouldn't have a child with autism."
Senator Hughes said she couldn't care less about someone having a go at her.
"But when someone invokes someone's child, I think they have crossed a line."
-- with AAP
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