Source : Perth Now news
All sides of parliament are being urged to address the heated political environment after the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, but the prime minister and fellow politicians are struggling to find the right line.
“My side, every side, is included. We all have to recognise politics has gotten more aggressive,” Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
The prime minister’s office in September briefed select media outlets, including AAP, on federal funding Dr Haines applied for under a community grants program.
It followed Dr Haines accusing the government of “pork-barrelling” as the vast majority of grants from the $560 million pool went to Labor seats.
Labor sources at the time called the criticism hypocritical. In the days since the alleged attack, Mr Albanese had repeatedly called Dr Haines a “thoroughly decent person”.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he did not have knowledge of the document.
“I don’t think it’s about pointing fingers. I think what it is about is all of us taking responsibility for the way in which we engage in public discourse,” he told Nine’s Today show.
The prime minister did not deny the existence of the briefing document when asked.
“Helen Haines is a strong advocate for her community, and she advocates for funding,” he told News24.
Known as “backgrounding”, it’s commonplace for information to be given to reporters by politicians of all stripes.
The prime minister’s office detailed coalition travel claims in April 2026, after Communications Minister Anika Wells came under fire for billing taxpayers $10,000 in questionable travel costs.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s media team is known to send out a fact sheet about Labor’s claims during sitting weeks.
The background briefing is rarely vitriolic, and tends to call out specific issues rather than attacking a person.
But comments in the chamber, particularly during Question Time, have been a different matter.
Coalition MP Angie Bell had to withdraw a comment for Small Business Minister Anne Aly to be “shamed and stoned in the square”.
Politicians regularly get thrown out of the chamber for personal attacks on colleagues.
Community Strong co-founder Allegra Spender, who sits on the crossbench with Dr Haines, told AAP parties needed to keep their own members to account.
She said her colleagues across party lines often defend inflammatory talk as “robust debate”, excusing personal attacks.
MPs seem united on a need for a cultural shift – noting increased security online will not solve the issue – but are divided on how to do it.
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce told News24 he believed an increased crackdown could stifle free speech.
National MP Pat Conaghan wants Question Time removed entirely.
“It’s actually an embarrassment, Question Time, and it’s designed to raise the temperature,” he told ABC Radio.
Fellow coalition member Jonno Duniam said the situation was not Mr Albanese’s fault, and instead all politicians must be held to account.
