The growing climate of violent rhetoric, threats and intimidation directed at women in public life and those who speak out on political issues must be confronted.
The alleged attack on independent MP Dr Helen Haines has shocked Australia. While the motive remains unknown, the incident comes amid growing concern about threats and abuse directed at politicians, particularly women. The Australian Federal Police recorded 1,067 reports of threatening, harassing and offensive behaviour involving federal parliamentarians and associated offices in 2025–26. Recent reporting has also highlighted how gendered and sexualised threats are forcing women in politics to change their behaviour, limit their public engagement and reconsider their participation in public life.
We cannot allow intimidation and violence to become the price of participating in our democracy.
Social media has increasingly become a breeding ground for coordinated trolling, fake accounts and automated campaigns that amplify hostility, spread disinformation and undermine constructive political debate. While not every abusive account is a bot, research and recent reporting highlight the scale of the problem: in September 2026, the ABC reported on a network of hundreds of Facebook pages using AI-generated content to target Australian politicians, including sexualised imagery of women in public life.
Meanwhile, a 2026 Women for Election survey found that nearly 90% of women in elected office or running for office had experienced online abuse or intimidation linked to their political participation.
Political disagreement is essential to a healthy democracy. Threats, misogyny, personal vilification and incitement to violence are not legitimate political debate. Our political leaders, media organisations, online platforms and institutions must do more to challenge this behaviour, hold perpetrators accountable and foster a culture of respectful, evidence-based public discussion.
Parents for Climate calls for meaningful action to ensure women, campaigners and elected representatives can speak, advocate and serve their communities without fear of violence, abuse or intimidation.
Enough is enough. We must defend the right to participate in public life safely, and restore civility, respect and accountability to Australian political discourse.
Everyone at Parents for Climate are thinking of Helen Haines, her family and loved ones at this very difficult time.
We're collecting messages of support to deliver to Helen's office.
If you'd like to sign her virtual card. Please leave your message here: https://www.parentsforclimate.org/support_for_helen