Hypervigilant and isolated, rural female MPs exhausted from fear
Regional female MPs are reviewing their safety measures and changing how they move around in public spaces, which are often far from emergency services.
Rural female politicians report feeling exhausted and constantly hypervigilant due to threats and violence they face while traveling to remote areas with limited resources. MP Annabelle Cleeland shares her live location while in the field, but poor connectivity leaves her relying on an unreliable safety net. Cleeland expresses concern about the impact on the future of democracy, noting that personal attacks target children and bodies, creating an intimidating atmosphere.
State MP Helen Haines recently suffered an attack in her electorate, leading to a man being charged with making threats while armed with nunchucks. The Victorian Parliament has seen escalating violence, yet it appears unchanged. Federal MP Hannah Beazley also faced threats in her office, with police responding to the incident. A survey by Women for Election found that 90% of women in politics have experienced intimidation or abuse.
The chief executive of the organization, Licia Heath, warns that declining participation of capable women in public office could jeopardize Australian democracy. Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell feels unsafe at work, citing online abuse. Candidates for the Victorian election admit to being on edge. Patty Kinnersly, CEO of Our Watch, highlights the prevalence of disrespect towards women, which she says is rampant in both online algorithms and public discourse.
Kinnersly emphasizes the profound impact of threats on women's safety, families, and communities. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with female caucus members who were shaken by the Haines attack, with Federal Cooper MP Ged Kearney noting the heightened vulnerability faced by women in public roles, including sexualized threats and rape.
Victorian Nationals deputy leader Emma Kealy has taken out intervention orders due to harassment, and former Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan reflected on the unsteady foundations of society, with hostility toward women driving extremism among younger Australians.
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.
