‘It only takes one serious threat’: Hannah Ferguson calls for greater protection of women in public life amid death threat allegations

Key points

• Cheek Media chief executive Hannah Ferguson says she received at least 20 death threats in the past 12 months. She made the claim on Sunrise after an alleged attack on Victorian MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta office.
• Haines is in hospital in a serious condition. Brendan Nugent, 43, is in custody while police investigate, and the motive has not been established.
• Ferguson called on elected leaders to act to protect women in public life, while Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek warned that threats of violence against politicians had grown sharply.