Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has led tributes to independent MP Helen Haines, who was allegedly struck by a vehicle in her electorate of Indi. Haines is in a serious but stable condition after both legs were amputated. Albanese said rage and aggression against politicians are increasing, enabled by social media. Politicians and advocates say female representatives face growing online abuse and intimidation. A survey by Women for Election found half of women in elected office were unsure they would run again.
Young WA politicians say they will keep going despite a rise in abuse. Youth parliamentarian Charlotte Rawlinson said she is scared but determined to stay involved. Busselton councillor Mikalya Love now has staff or colleagues walk her to her car after meetings, and police have been called to some council meetings. Federal MP Tanya Plibersek described abuse against parliamentarians as occurring at an industrial scale. Former prime minister Julia Gillard said more action is needed to protect women in politics.
Victorian MP Georgie Purcell says threats against her, including sexualised and violent messages on social media, have left her on high alert before the state election. Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland says she shares her live location with her husband and staff when travelling. Police say they are working on a centralised process to monitor threats against MPs. Premier Ben Carroll met police, the electoral commissioner and his cabinet on Wednesday to discuss stronger safety measures. MPs are due at a police briefing on Friday.
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Regional women in public office say staying safe is exhausting, as they travel long distances on high alert amid escalating threats. Victorian MP Annabelle Cleeland says poor phone reception leaves her safety net unreliable. Days after Indi MP Helen Haines was attacked, police charged a man accused of threatening WA MP Hannah Beazley with a homemade weapon. A survey by Women for Election found nine in 10 women in politics had experienced intimidation or abuse. Our Watch chief Patty Kinnersly said disrespect towards women was rife.
Independent MP Helen Haines lost both legs after an alleged attack in which she was reportedly rammed by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday. Her husband said she is critical but stable. Governor-General Sam Mostyn called for Australians to lower the temperature in political debate, particularly towards women. Haines described attacks on women in public life as unique and pernicious. Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said threats against women in power had risen over recent years.
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.
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.
Christopher Mark Whitty, 43, has pleaded guilty in Gosford Local Court to using a carriage service to threaten serious harm against Gosford state MP Liesl Tesch. Court documents heard he used Facebook to make threats of violence and to say he intended to find Ms Tesch in public and harm her. Whitty has been on conditional bail since August, and his conditions bar him from coming within 100 metres of Ms Tesch. He is due to face sentencing in December. Ms Tesch previously said online threats against women in public life are a serious problem.
