Politicians urged to report threats and vary daily habits
From threats against their children to stalking and intimidation, politicians across party lines are revealing the disturbing abuse they face in public life.
Australian politicians have detailed harrowing experiences with threats and harassment, including intimidation targeting their children. The alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines has heightened concerns about how to keep parliamentarians safe while maintaining public accessibility. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has advised MPs to report threats promptly and change their daily routines to prevent potential dangers.
Some MPs only discovered they were on a list of alleged targets after reading about the case in the media, describing the situation as "surreal." The increasing frequency of threats against elected representatives has led police to lay charges almost weekly. One senior Labor MP revealed that the worst threat received was an itemized list of times and places where the politician's children were seen in public.
Other politicians have shared accounts of rape threats, stalking, and bomb threats. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek recounted receiving a note under her door, expressing hope that her children would die of painful cancers. MPs were encouraged to share their diaries with the AFP and frequently alter their daily habits to enhance their safety.
Despite the advice, some MPs expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of specific security measures for their homes and electorate offices. The AFP charged 41 individuals with offenses related to threats against parliamentarians in the past year, while reports of harassing behavior have quadrupled since 2020.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
