Australia’s top federal law enforcement official has drawn a direct link between politicians’ rhetoric and threats and abuse being directed at leaders. The safety of elected representatives at all levels has been thrown into the spotlight after independent MP Helen Haines was allegedly deliberate attacked outside her Wangaratta electoral office. Haines remains in a serious but stable condition at the Alfred hospital in Melbourne, following her double leg amputation.
The Australian federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, said there was no doubt the threat environment had changed for politicians. The move from the sending of physical hate mail to online threats had played a significant role in the increasing volume of worrying material, while also highlighting the influence of inflammatory political imagery and language. Past One Nation cartoons depicting political figures, including the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, being hit by cars or buses have resurfaced in the days since the alleged attack on Haines.
The commissioner said there was “a reaction amongst the community” to material such as the cartoons. The policing agency, which is responsible for protecting federal politicians and office-holders, has held a number of emergency safety briefings with parliamentarians since Monday. Male and female MPs were targeted equally with threats and abuse, Barrett said, but women were more often singled out individually, often with threats of sexual violence.
We’re particularly good at it in Australia. We can’t take away grassroots politics.” Labor minister Catherine King said she has been contending with the deteriorating safety for some time. I don’t use that now because it doesn’t have a second exit point.
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