MP Targeted in Violent Attack; Fears Rise for Political Representatives
Source reports published 23 Oct 2026, 10:56 am – 25 Oct 2026, 4:00 am AEST
Following a violent attack on Helen Haines, concerns have emerged regarding the safety of political representatives in Australia. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess warned of inflamed language and violence, while a recent study revealed significant anxieties among MPs regarding their physical and mental wellbeing.
What happened
- Helen Haines was attacked outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Wednesday evening when she was rammed by a LandCruiser.
- ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess issued a warning about the correlation between inflamed language and acts of violence, emphasizing the importance of political sanity.
- The attack followed a study by the Better Politics Foundation, which revealed that nearly half of female MPs reported fears for their safety and wellbeing, with nearly 40% stating that these fears had stopped them speaking out on important issues.
- The study, titled Fit To Lead, found that Australian politicians experience more depression and anxiety than emergency service personnel.
- The report highlighted a concerning trend of threats against MPs, with numbers rising from 300 to over 1000 in the past five years, largely driven by online and social media threats.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the need to lower the political temperature.
- Pauline Hanson condemned the violence, Angus Taylor pleaded for attacks not to be normalised, and Sandra Booth described online radicalisation and manipulation, citing a 13-year-old boy with school shooting plans.