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.
Almost half of more than 460,000 comments on the social media accounts of 22 Labor politicians were classed as abusive between July and October, according to data from an AI tool called Areto. Of the 2,497 threats and 2,487 comments using violent language, examples included calls for a politician to be shot and hanged. Facebook carried about 94 per cent of the comments, and 51 per cent of those were abusive. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the abuse was having a chilling effect on community engagement, while Housing Minister Clare O'Neil criticised platforms for profiting from it.
Federal Parliament paused on Monday to pay tribute to Indi MP Helen Haines, who is recovering in a Melbourne hospital. Police allege Brendan Nugent, 43, drove a four-wheel-drive into her as she collected items from her car outside her Wangaratta electorate office. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for lower temperatures in political debate, warning of rising rage and aggression. Opposition leader Angus Taylor described the attack as a national tragedy. Politicians across parties spoke about threats against MPs and their staff, and a donation page in her name had raised more than $1.2 million.
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A 21-year-old farm worker from regional South Australia says her identity was stolen and used to make and sell AI-generated pornography online. Beth Richards says links to the material were posted from her hacked Facebook account and led to a private chat group selling explicit videos for about $90 each. Facebook has deactivated her account, but the links remain active. Police are investigating but believe those responsible are operating overseas. Premier Peter Malinauskas described the alleged conduct as criminal. Richards says she wants the material removed and those responsible held to account.
The City of Melville council has condemned online bullying, harassment, threats and violence against council members, candidates and staff. It did so after independent federal MP Helen Haines was struck by a car in an alleged road-rage incident on October 19. However, councillors voted 6-7 against asking the WA Local Government Association to push for a coordinated response and review gaps in protections. Councillor Karen Wheatland, who proposed the motion without notice, said nobody should have to accept threats as the price of serving their community. Other councillors questioned whether the proposal was appropriate and sensitive.
ACT politicians say they have faced death threats, spitting and misogynistic abuse. Several members of the ACT Legislative Assembly have spoken out after federal independent MP Helen Haines was allegedly run down outside her Victorian electorate office on Monday. Canberra Liberals MLA Elizabeth Lee said she received a death threat naming her daughter and partner, left at her front gate. ACT Health Minister Marisa Paterson said she has been spat at and threatened face-to-face, with abuse online increasing over the past 18 months. Greens MLA Laura Nuttall said she has been targeted over her sexuality and gender.
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.
Independent MP Helen Haines was critically injured in a physical attack, and a man has been charged. Police have not yet advanced a motive. A draft study by the Better Politics Foundation, titled Fit To Lead, surveyed 288 current and five former representatives about their mental health and safety. Threats against federal MPs and high office holders recorded by the Australian Federal Police have risen from 300 to more than 1,000 in five years. Several MPs report ongoing harassment, with some offices closed after threats in recent days.
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.
Tony Barry and George Megalogenis host a podcast examining the response to an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines. The prime minister urged everyone to turn the temperature down, but the discussion says many quickly escalated their rhetoric, particularly online. The hosts ask whether leaders from all sides can urge their supporters to tone down their language. They also consider what lessons history offers for navigating toxic public debate.
Tony Barry and George Megalogenis discuss the response to the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines this week. The prime minister urged everyone to turn the temperature down, but many quickly raised it again, particularly online. The discussion asks whether politicians from all sides can tell their supporters to tone down their rhetoric. It also looks at what history can teach people about navigating toxic public debate.
Australian politicians say threats against them have become routine, with police now laying charges almost weekly. Following an alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines, whose motive remains unknown, MPs have described rape threats, intimidation and stalking. The Australian Federal Police have offered safety briefings, advising MPs to vary daily routines and share diaries. Police charged 41 people over threats against parliamentarians in the past year. Several MPs say state politicians receive less support than federal ones.
Communications Minister Anika Wells has spoken in Port Moresby at the launch of the PNG Chiefs, saying a national team can bring people together. Asked about an incident involving Helen Haines, Wells said her thoughts were with Haines and her family, and she would not draw links while a police investigation continues. Wells said online abuse, threats and harassment have become more vicious and that platforms should act urgently to address them. She said she and the AFP Commissioner are working together to make online platforms safer.
Independent senator David Pocock has called parliamentary question time a disgrace and urged politicians to clean up their behaviour after an attack on fellow crossbencher Helen Haines. Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Senator Pocock said he was deeply shocked by conduct during his first question time and that MPs get few answers. He said robust debate should not turn into personal attacks. He also said he and his wife had made safety decisions after concerns about their previous home, and that female parliamentarians face far worse abuse.
A Canberra Facebook group with more than 10,000 members has drawn criticism after a weekend of sexually suggestive posts and personal allegations naming individuals. Member Jonathan Mutton called for clearer rules and more consistent moderation, questioning whether administrators were reviewing content. Members said no administrators were listed for the group. The objectionable posts were not reported or removed for more than 48 hours. Another Canberra group recently said it would publish profiles of members who post abusive comments under nicknames. Lawyers have warned that defamation action over social media comments can be costly and slow.
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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.
Mary Anne Franks, a law professor who leads the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, says online attempts to identify a woman who accused seven Cornell fraternity members of sexual assault are common. Franks argues that sexual abuse silences victims and should be treated as a free speech issue. She says people who publicly name accusers face harassment, and she criticises the use of free speech arguments to excuse such conduct. Her comments come as the woman's lawsuit describes an explicit image shared on Snapchat before the alleged assault. The lawsuit's claims remain unproven.
Advocates for women in politics say a brutal attack on federal MP Helen Haines on Monday, which has left her fighting for her life, has frightened them but did not surprise them. Women for Election chief executive Licia Heath linked the attack to misogyny and said nine elected women she had spoken to were scared. A study released in August found 89 per cent of Australian women in office had experienced online abuse or intimidation linked to their political roles. Independent Victorian upper house candidate Aleta Moriarty said she has received thousands of threats, including rape and death threats.
The Australian Local Government Association is running a webinar called Surviving the Comment Section to help councillors deal with online abuse. Social media strategist Felicity Cull will offer practical advice on responding to personal attacks and protecting personal safety. The webinar is on Monday 16 November at 11.00am. A survey by advocacy group Women for Election found that 88 percent of 110 women in elected office or running for office had experienced online abuse linked to their political work.
Independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition after emergency surgery following an alleged attack in Wangaratta. Police say a 43-year-old local man is in custody. Police suspect she was struck by a vehicle, and the attack may have been targeted. The column says threats and harassment against women in public life have grown sharply, citing recent surveys in which most women in politics reported online abuse. Labor MP Anne Aly and Victorian MP Georgie Purcell have also spoken publicly about threats they have received.
