Australian police link political conflict to threats against MPs

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 03:32 · Archive

Australia's top federal police officer says there is an immediate correlation between political conflict and threats against elected representatives.

Australia's Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett has drawn a direct link between inflammatory political rhetoric and increasing threats against politicians, particularly women. She said there was no doubt the threat environment for elected representatives had changed, with threats received by the AFP growing substantially.

The safety of politicians has become a focus following an incident in which independent MP Helen Haines was run down outside her Wangaratta electoral office in Victoria. The collision occurred on the main street of the town on Monday in what is alleged to have been a deliberate attack. Dr Haines had both legs amputated and remains in serious but stable condition at the Alfred hospital in Melbourne.

Ms Barrett told the ABC's Insiders program that she reads daily threat reports when starting work, with some running to multiple pages. She said the move from physical hate mail to online threats had significantly increased the volume of concerning material, while inflammatory political imagery and language had played a notable role. 'We do see where there is particular political conflict or discourse occurring ... it does have a direct correlation to what we see in terms of threats and abuse, and sometimes it's very immediate,' she said.

How it is being reported

• 'Immediate' link between political angst and MP threatsThreats against politicians - particularly women - have ramped up in recent years, raising the risk of attacks on MPs, Australia's top cop says.Perth Now · 25 Oct, 02:54
• 'Immediate' link between political angst and MP threatsThreats against politicians - particularly women - have ramped up in recent years, raising the risk of attacks on MPs, Australia's top cop says.The West Australian · 25 Oct, 02:54

In this story: Helen Haines · Krissy Barrett · Australian Federal Police · Victoria · Wangaratta · Melbourne

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