Pauline Hanson has accused Anthony Albanese of hypocrisy after the Prime Minister called for a more respectful political debate following an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, despite his office previously circulating a document questioning her integrity.
The One Nation leader told News24 the Prime Minister needed to apply his own message about lowering the political temperature after a dirt sheet about Ms Haines was sent to select parliamentary journalists.
The document raised questions about the Indi MP’s connections to recipients of government funding after she criticised a $6 million grant allocated to the Prime Minister’s local golf course.
“It was just a few weeks ago, he was putting out a dirt file on Helen Haines because she questioned the money going to the Marrickville golf course,” the One Nation leader said.
“So, you know … the dirt file that the Labor people put out on many politicians who may go against the Albanese government … what they’re doing is wrong.”
Ms Hanson said she and other politicians had also been subjected to threats and hateful messages, but said the incident involving Ms Haines had left her shocked.
“Quite a few others, my colleagues, including myself, have been targeted with hate mail, and threats of violence,” Ms Hanson said.
“We’re seeing it on the streets with the students that want to kill me.
“But for this to happen to Helen, that’s why I’m awfully shocked by it, but you know, you’ve got to go back to the prime minister.”
She called on Mr Albanese to stop the practice of circulating material targeting political opponents.
“I’ll tell the PM, you tone it down. Get rid of your dirt file that goes on against parliamentarians, including my party, which I’m constantly dealing with all the time,” she said.
“It comes from the top. Tone it down.”
The document, obtained by the Daily Mail, listed Ms Haines’ funding requests for projects in her electorate and raised questions about whether she had personal or professional connections to potential recipients.
It offered no evidence of wrongdoing, instead suggesting lines of inquiry for journalists, including whether she had received gifts, held business interests or had links to organisations seeking government funding.
Ms Haines previously told the publication she had not seen the document, saying: “They are pretty desperate.”
She defended her work advocating for regional projects, describing her budget submissions as public documents put forward on behalf of councils, development officials and community organisations.
“I’m proud of it,” she said.
The document’s metadata listed Joshua Lloyd, Mr Albanese’s deputy director of communications, as its creator and last editor.
Its creation date was September 10, the day after a statement from Ms Haines referenced in the document.
The metadata does not conclusively establish who wrote or authorised the contents.
Ms Haines remains in a critical condition after being struck by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday.
A 43-year-old man by the name of Brendan Nugent is in custody, and police have not established a motive.
Mr Albanese praised Ms Haines’ character in an interview with News24 on Tuesday morning.
“She is someone who is very passionate about representing that beautiful part of Victoria,” Mr Albanese said.
“She’s passionate about regional economic development, about the clean energy transition, about integrity in politics, about healthcare, about so many issues.
“That is why I think this has shaken the community.”
He described Ms Haines as someone who engages constructively with colleagues across the political spectrum and said his thoughts remained with her family and friends.
Mr Albanese said political debate must remain respectful, warning against personal attacks and growing division.
“We need less shouting and more discussion,” he said.