Women lawmakers in Australia's Victoria state say safety concerns shape their public duties before the Nov. 28 state election, and more than a dozen MPs told ABC News that they had received threats.
ABC News reported that lawmakers from across party lines described threats affecting themselves and people around them, including relatives, staff and campaign volunteers. Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland said she shares her location with her team while traveling through her regional electorate, but poor mobile reception can make that check unreliable, the broadcaster reported.
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell told ABC News that an online commenter wished the attack on Haines had happened to her. Purcell said she did not feel “safe or comfortable at work.”
Women for Election says 89% of the current and aspiring women representatives it surveyed across government levels had experienced online abuse or intimidation related to political participation. The organization said 82% changed their behavior because of it. ABC News also reported that independent candidate Tracee Hutchison chose not to run again in November after sustained verbal and online abuse and defaced campaign material.
A white Toyota LandCruiser struck federal MP Helen Haines outside her office in Wangaratta on Oct. 19, Victoria Police said. Police charged a 43-year-old man with dangerous driving alleged to have caused serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and harming a Commonwealth public official. The force said it would allege the incident was targeted.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush told ABC News on Oct. 23 that investigators had not established a motive. On Oct. 20, police said no other threats connected to the incident were known at that time.
Deakin University extremism expert Josh Roose told ABC News that distrust in government helps drive threats. He said online engagement, advertising income and political advantage can reward divisive debate, while political figures may use grievances such as living-cost pressures. ABC News reported that protesters opposing pandemic laws staged a mock execution of an effigy of then-Premier Daniel Andrews at Parliament in 2021.
Bush said police were developing a single channel for threat reports, ABC News reported. A Victorian Electoral Commission spokesperson said political violence “has no place in our democracy.” Early voting is scheduled for Nov. 18-27, with election day on Nov. 28, the commission says.
