‘Take the heat out’: SA pollies shocked over attack on MP
The Premier and opposition leader call for the heat to be taken out of politics after an MP was deliberately hit by a 4WD. One Nation also responds.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas and Liberal leader Ashton Hurn have called for the heat to be taken out of political discourse after federal Independent MP Helen Haines was yesterday deliberately struck by a 4WD outside her Wangarratta electorate office.
Haines, 65, is fighting for her life in hospital after the incident that the Prime Minister said was a “deliberate act” and prompted an investigation by counter-terrorism authorities.
Haines grew up in the farming town of Colac in the South-West of Victoria and was elected in the 2019 federal election.
Online tributes have flooded in from across the political spectrum, with SA Labor, Liberal, Greens and One Nation members taking to social media to condemn political violence and wish Haines well.
Hurn wrote on social media that she was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the news, while Malinauskas said he was “appalled” and called the incident “deeply distressing”.
You might like
Hurn said this morning that she believed “women are more at risk than men” in politics.
“[And] we need to be able to have a robust debate and disagreement about issues impacting South Australia, that’s the nature of being in parliament, but when you start to see disagreements fester into hate, turning into violence, I do think that’s something we all need to take seriously.”
While Malinauskas acknowledged it was political violence not usually seen in Australian and “I think taking the heat out of the political discourse would be a virtuous thing to do”.
Malinauskas said he had not increased security after the incident and that SA Police makes all security detail decisions.
Stay informed, daily
“I understand they review it pretty frequently and then make their own independent judgment around what’s necessary,” Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide on Tuesday morning.
“I certainly don’t hope this requires any change in arrangement, because frankly, I think we’re very fortunate in South Australia that all MPs and myself included get to do regular things in the community without having to have the watchful eye of any security arrangements in place.”
Earlier this year, a post in social media group Possum Park Protection Platoon called for the Premier’s address to be shared, the post was quickly removed and condemned by the Adelaide Park Lands Association.
One Nation SA President and state upper house politician Carlos Quaremba released a statement on Tuesday morning saying “Violence against any elected representative, regardless of their political alignment, is completely unacceptable in Australia”.
“Violence must never become part of this great nation’s political landscape, and violence must never be a substitute for the civilised clash of ideas that built our democracy,” he said.
“Elected members and their staff must be free to serve their respective communities without fearing for their safety, or the safety of their families.
“In the meantime, the thoughts of SA One Nation MPs and their staff are with Ms Haines and her family. We pray for her recovery.”
SA Greens leader Robert Simms condemned the attack, saying “political violence has no place in our democracy”.
“As parliamentarians, we expect our views to be challenged and debated, but we should never have to fear for our personal safety because of them,” Simms said.
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
