'Could this happen to us?': The unnerving question facing female politicians

Key points

• Female politicians across several parties say threats are affecting their safety and their willingness to stay in public life. Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek says the biggest change is the scale of threats, which she describes as industrial.
• Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody says online abuse often moves into real life quickly.
• A survey by Women for Election found nearly 90 per cent of women in or seeking office had faced online abuse linked to their work, and 82 per cent changed their behaviour as a result.