By Natasha Fujimoto
LAST week’s attack on Independent Federal Member for Indi Dr Helen Haines ignited widespread debate and renewed concerns about the safety of those involved in public life.
Those concerns were heightened by another alarming incident on Wednesday, October 21, when a 56-year-old man allegedly stormed the electorate office of WA Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley in Victoria Park, demanding access to the minister and making verbal threats.
While both incidents have placed the safety of politicians and their staff firmly in the spotlight, they have also raised a broader question about Australia’s capacity to engage in political debate with civility, maturity and respect.
The Nationals’ candidate for Shepparton District, Shane Sali, was among those to respond to The Adviser’s request for comment.
“My thoughts are with Helen Haines, her family, friends, team and the entire community right now,” Mr Sali said.
“What has occurred is devastating, and violence in any form is unacceptable.
“Politics is robust, but everyone has a responsibility to focus on parties and policies, not personal attacks.”
Northern Victoria Region MP Wendy Lovell also extended her support to Dr Haines and her family, while condemning the vitriol and violence increasingly associated with political debate.
“People may differ from her [Dr Haines] politically, but there’s no need to go to these lengths,” Ms Lovell said.
“If someone has a difference of opinion with a Member of Parliament … the place for them to cast their protest is in the ballot box and vote against them.”
Having spent 24 years in Parliament, Ms Lovell said she had witnessed considerable changes to security, as well as increasing abuse directed at politicians, particularly on social media.
“What really concerns me is that this could lead to a change with the way the public interact with Members of Parliament in Australia,” she said.
“We’ve always had such very, very close relationships with communities and the community has had virtually unfettered access to their Members of Parliament.
“This heightened level of violence towards, or abuse towards, Members of Parliament could mean that changes in the future, and I think that would be really detrimental to what we value here in Australia.”
Ms Lovell also called for greater responsibility from social media companies in addressing abusive and inflammatory content.
“I think the social media platforms need to be held more accountable for what is on those platforms and the level of hatred that is being stirred up amongst the comment sections on social media,” she said.
Community Independent candidate for Shepparton District Lou Costa also extended her best wishes to Dr Haines and her loved ones as she recovers, saying the attack had left her deeply troubled.
“I have been deeply troubled by the violent attack … [and] I would not be surprised to hear that politicians and political candidates, particularly women, because let’s face it, they are more often a target, are exercising extra caution in light of this incident.”
Citing a recent study that found 90 per cent of women in public office or running for election had experienced online abuse, Ms Costa said the issue extended beyond the immediate question of physical security to the broader tone of political debate.
“I would like to see us all take a good hard look at the tenor of political debate in this country,” she said.
“Many of us are sick of the divisive nature, the demonising of one group over another, and the muckraking.”
