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Jo Cox's sister calls for Australia to lower political temperature
After Helen Haines was attacked outside her office, Kim Leadbeater warns that violent incidents do not happen in isolation from hostile political culture.
In brief
After Helen Haines was attacked outside her office, Kim Leadbeater warns that violent incidents do not happen in isolation from hostile political culture. Kim Leadbeater, sister of murdered UK MP Jo Cox, has urged Australia to use the attack on Independent MP Helen Haines as a moment to calm political discourse and…
Independent MP attacked in Wangaratta
Helen Haines, Independent Federal Member for Indi, was struck by a car outside her office on Monday.A forty-three-year-old man, Brendan Nugent, has been charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and intentionally causing serious injury.
Federal charge carries ten-year maximum
Nugent was also charged with the federal offence of causing harm to a Commonwealth public official, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years' imprisonment. Victoria Police said officers would allege the incident was targeted.
Jo Cox's sister sees a turning point
Kim Leadbeater, now MP for the constituency her sister Jo Cox held before her murder in twenty sixteen, called on Australia to use this attack as a moment to examine its political culture and find…
“Maybe for Australia this is your moment to think about what your politics looks like and how we can bring people together and find common ground.”
Violence does not happen in isolation
Leadbeater said horrendous attacks like the one on Haines do not happen in isolation but are part of a wider culture around politics and society.
“Things don't happen in a vacuum and horrendous attacks and incidents like this don't happen in isolation.”
Ten years of the same conversation
Leadbeater said she has been giving similar interviews for the last ten years about the need to look at political culture. She finds it frustrating that the same conversation happens every time something horrific occurs.
Plibersek reveals scale of online abuse
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek shared that someone posted a comment saying Jacqui Lambie deserves to meet a LandCruiser, hours after the attack on Haines.
“she deserves to meet a LandCruiser”
Hastie warns of social media reach
Coalition MP Andrew Hastie said his concern is with the industrial scale of social media, where more people are reached with emotive, negative messages that could inspire action.
Talent needed in parliament
Hastie said Australia needs people of talent coming into parliament, and that requires getting the political culture right. Without the best people serving in parliament, the nation will not get the best public policy outcomes.
At a glance
Kim Leadbeater, sister of murdered UK MP Jo Cox, has urged Australia to use the attack on Independent MP Helen Haines as a moment to calm political discourse and recognise how hostile rhetoric contributes to violence.
