The cost of civility: how do we learn to disagree again?

Key points

• Local female politicians say they have faced online abuse, false rumours and threats for some time. The discussion follows the alleged attack on independent Member for Indi Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta office.
• Police allege Brendan Nugent deliberately struck her vehicle, pinning her between two cars. She survived but has had both legs amputated and remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.
• Nugent has been charged and remanded in custody, and his lawyers say he has a history of mental illness.