Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has delivered a powerful speech urging politicians to “do better’ and avoid the personal attacks of the ‘MAGA’ movement and Donald Trump.
“Our parliament requires tough and rigorous debate, but in moments like this one, we can reflect on how we can do better,’’ he said.
“We, the 150 members of this house, have a duty to model, steward, and uphold our democratic traditions for the 27 million Australians that we represent.
“That’s why there can be no place for the targeted destruction of character or the relentless demonisation of personality, because it only takes one person with a twisted mind or a perverted sense of reality to strike out, to weaponise a car, a kitchen knife, or a firearm, and to feel justified in doing so because they judge that an online assassination must be followed up with a real-life assassination.
“So what we say here or online shapes the political culture, and we can all do better, and we should strive to do better.
“So let’s play the ball, not the person, and leave the nasty personal politics of MAGA in the United States.”
Mr Hastie said he was stunned by the attack.
“We don’t know why a local man turned his Toyota Land Cruiser into a two-ton weapon and robbed Helen Haines of her legs and health,’’ he said.
“We don’t know why, and that question gnaws at us because we know Helen Haines, and we know that she is a kind and gentle lady.
“We’ve all seen Helen gracefully gliding through the corridors during the working day.
“We’ve all known Helen smile, channelling that Wangeratha warmth, and we’re all stunned because we don’t know why someone would want to hurt her.
“Perhaps we’ll never know why.”
‘Unfathomable’: Tanya Plibersek’s emotional tribute Samantha Maiden
Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek said it was “unfathomable that anyone would want to hurt Helen.”
“It does keep me up at night, thinking that we might be entering a political era in which representatives feel afraid to be fully and properly available to the communities that they serve,’’ she said.
“Violence is the antithesis of democracy; it’s an ugly, dangerous dead end.
“I know many people across Australia are asking what they can do to help. Well, the first thing they can do, of course, is to donate to save the children, as Helen has asked.
“But also be good to each other. Be patient. Be kinder. Smile at a stranger. Let someone go ahead of you in a queue. Listen carefully. Try and see something from someone else’s point of view.
“I remember being really little. One of my earliest memories is walking through Janelli’s shops with my mum, and I I said to mum, “Why is everybody smiling at us, mum?” She said, “Because I’m smiling at them, and what you put out into the world, you get back.” And as a parliament, I think we have to ask ourselves what we’re putting out into the world.
“All of us as politicians have an opportunity to do better, but of course it’s not just each other that we have to be worried about in terms of how people are being treated: teachers, principals, nurses, paramedics, shop assistants, flight attendants.
and bus drivers.
“The the young referee at your kid’s sport on the weekend, if you can’t contai
Anthony Albanese pays tribute to Dr Haines
Anthony Albanese has paid tribute to Helen Haines’ husband, Phil, following the attack on his wife as she continues her recovery in Melbourne after being rammed twice outside her electorate office in Victoria’s northwest.
“Her husband Phil Haines was with us this morning,” the Prime Minister told parliament.
“He has shown a level of grace that, for most of us, is simply beyond reckoning.
“This morning, Phil spoke lovingly of Helen’s superpowers as empathy, kindness, and compassion, he spoke of hope and change, and the need for a gentler, more cohesive path.
“I want Phil to know that we are with him and Helen, and with their children and their grandchildren, and will remain with them.
“The shock from what happened last Monday is like a stone in our hearts.
“I want Phil to know that we are with him and Helen, and with their children and their grandchildren, and will remain with them.
“Right now, our friend and colleague is in hospital, grievously injured. The shape of her life and her family’s lives changed forever.”
Barnaby Joyce absent from parliament
There were two empty seats in the Lower House as the tributes flowed.
One belonged to Dr Haines. The other belonged to One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce.
Mr Joyce was at Tamworth Airport instead giving an interview from Tamworth Airport.
However, he did pay tribute to Dr Haines, saying it is “a hell of a time for her and her family”.
“We just want our colleague back … otherwise it’s a form of loss and a form of win for violence,” he told News24.
‘Matriarch’ of the parliament
Independents have led emotional tributes to Dr Haines calling her the much-loved “matriarch” of parliament.
“You are the matriarch of the cross bench, always a voice for respectful political debate,’’ independent MP Zali Stegall said.
“She’s advised me to amend a few questions over the years. We have heard your words loud and clear: kindness over hate. It’s time to diffuse the tension and consider how our words are being received by others in the community beyond this space.”
Independent MP Monique Ryan said broke down in tears as she paid tribute to Dr Haines’ strength and resilience.
“She always uses her magnificent heart and mind for the greater good,’’ she said.
“God gives his hardest battles to the strongest soldiers. We can improve mental health services.”
“Helen Mary Haines is the very best of us, a woman of luminous generosity and kindness, the most intelligent and measured of voices, someone who stands firmly for a more accountable and more civil parliament.
“I’m hugely grateful to know my warm, funny friend.
“She can put anyone at ease. She makes an excellent sponge.
“She grows a beautiful garden.
“She tells great stories about being a small Colac schoolgirl, unafraid to take on the nuns, about riding her bike through the snow in black tie during her PhD studies, who adores her husband, and this week the whole country has seen why.”
‘Disagree’: Angus Taylor questions Anthony Albanese’s call to turn down the temperature
Liberal leader Angus Taylor said Australians were “praying for your swift recovery.”
“My hope, our hope, the nation’s hope, is that you will be back here soon,’’ he said.
“And when you resume your seat in this parliament, that will be a resounding moment for our democracy.
“A moment when our nation says with one voice to those who seek to undermine our way of life through intimidation and violence, you will not break us. You will not silence us. You will not change us.”
“While last Monday’s horrendous attack was a national tragedy, it is first and foremost a family’s tragedy.
“We’re also thinking of Helen’s beloved husband Phil, and their three cherished kids, Will, Nick, and Georgia.
“In the past week, so many have spoken and written about Helen’s qualities: her intelligence, compassion, commitment, poise, gentleness, and courtesy.
“Dr Helen Haines epitomises civility, and that’s why the violent attack on her seems so unfathomable.”
Mr Taylor has used his speech to question Mr Albanese’s call to turn the political temperature down and link robust debate with the attack on Dr Haines.
“Last week, it’s been suggested by some there is a causal connection between robust parliamentary debate and political violence.
“I disagree with this view,’’ he said.
“Our democratic system has served us well, from our colonies through to federation, through to the present day, the Westminster system is about settling differences through robust and rigorous debate, not violence.
“With symbolic significance, the distance between the prime minister and opposition leader is said to be the length of two swords.
“Importantly, we debate with adversarial vigour, but we never allow that vigorous parliamentary debate to spill over into violence.
“People who resort to intimidation and violence cross a line that must never be crossed.
“The antidote to violence isn’t to compromise our system of robust debate, but to cherish, champion, and strengthen that system. “
“And the government has been absolutely right to call out far-right extremism. But all extremism must be called out. Every source must be named, must be targeted, and must be fought, especially through our additional funding for intelligence and law enforcement. And we need judges to come down harder on people found guilty of acts of intimidation or violence.”
House Speaker Milton Dick — a fierce advocate for greater civility — praised Dr Haines’ “genuine warmth and respect”.
He said the day “is a moment for all of us to rise to the challenge”.
“Like many members I valued Helen’s friendship, counsel and commitment to making our parliament better,” he said.
“I could always on count on Helen when I had a particularly difficult day or if I needed a bit of extra encouragement — that’s just Helen.”
Australians dig deep for Helen Haines
Australians have now donated more than $1m to the Save the Children charity in honour of Dr Haines who remains in a serious but stable condition after a double amputation.
Dr Haines’ husband, Phil, launched the donation plea last week in lieu of flowers revealing that the charity’s work was close to her heart as she recovers from her injuries.
Floral tributes have lined the footpath outside her electorate office in regional Victoria this week after she was allegedly attacked by Brendan Nugent.
Mr Haines said that while his wife “loved flowers,” donating to charity was a better idea.
“Our team has been overwhelmed by the kindness shown by the Indi community and people right across Australia and internationally,‘’ her office said.
“Since Phil first invited people to donate to Save the Children Australia in Helen’s honour, more than $919,000 has been raised to help children across Australia and around the world. We are deeply moved by the extraordinary generosity of so many people.”
Donations are still welcome at www.savethechildrenfundraising.org.au/helenhaines.
‘Not going anywhere’: Pauline Hanson defends cartoon
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says her controversial Please Explain videos “will not be going anywhere” as parliamentarians call for greater civility following the attack on independent MP Helen Haines.
As federal politicians prepared for a day of tributes to Dr Haines, Senator Hanson posted on social media accusing both Labor and the Coalition of “attempting to use this tragedy to silence their critics and deflect from their own failings”.
“The Please Explain cartoons have nothing to do with the tragic attack on Helen Haines,” she posted on social media.
“Liberal and Labor politicians want our cartoons censored because they don’t like the scrutiny.
“Free speech, satire, criticism and debate are essential to our democracy. They must be protected.
“Those seeking to exploit this tragedy to silence their critics should be ashamed of themselves.”
The One Nation cartoons, which credit Senator Hanson as a producer, have drawn criticism in recent months for repeatedly calling special forces veteran and Liberal MP Andrew Hastie a traitor and mocking independent senator Jacqui Lambie’s health struggles.
Senator Lambie is also a veteran.
Older cartoons have also resurfaced depicting a caricature of Senator Hanson driving a bus over independent Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe.
Call to sign ‘civility pledge’
Some parliamentarians will sign a “civility pledge” in honour of Dr Haines.
She was the first signatory this year, which was inspired by a similar initiative in the UK following the murder of British MP Jo Cox.
It reads: “In my political life, I pledge to act with honesty, respect and compassion.”
Some of Dr Haines’ fellow independents, including West Australian MP Kate Chaney, have vowed to add their names.
She encouraged other to do the same but stressed it is “optional”.
“There’s no pressure on MPs to do this,” Ms Chaney told ABC Radio National.
“I think there’s something really symbolic about the fact that Helen was the only federal MP to have signed this, the first.”
More to come
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