00:01Since first hearing of an accident,
00:04where, of course, I was incredibly concerned for her wellbeing,
00:07to then understanding some of the reported facts around the attack,
00:12which puts it in a whole different light.
00:15Of course, we need to wait for the police investigation,
00:18but it is so deeply troubling, obviously, as a politician,
00:23but knowing Helen's sitting alongside her,
00:26she is just the most amazing, respectful, wise and kind person,
00:32and so to think that anyone would want to intentionally harm her
00:36is deeply troubling.
00:38And as you mentioned there,
00:40we don't know the motivations yet behind this,
00:42but what sort of conversations has this prompted for you with fellow MPs?
00:47We, of course, will be asking for a briefing
00:50from the Prime Minister and AFP around security threats,
00:55whether this attack changes the kind of advice we receive
01:00as parliamentarians in terms of security measures
01:03we need to put in place around our workplace,
01:06around our homes, around attending public gatherings.
01:10We already have a protocol in place
01:12and we get regular updates from the AFP
01:15and any threats that are made,
01:18usually through social media, I should say,
01:20do get actioned and dealt with.
01:22But, of course, we want to understand, you know,
01:26what does this attack mean for our current environment?
01:29And so you think those security arrangements may change?
01:34Well, I think...
01:36Look, again, we can't prejudge.
01:38We need to get to the bottom of what's happened here
01:41and understand the circumstances.
01:42I know with Helen we've often talked about our daily lives,
01:47you know, what the 2025 campaign was like.
01:49We know there was heightened concerns around safety
01:53because of polarisation of people from often the debate online,
01:58people feeling really, like, irrationally disconnected
02:02to politicians in terms of blaming them,
02:06whereas, you know, you can disagree on issues and policies,
02:09but we are still people doing our job
02:13and the usual kind of respectful and environment
02:16should apply to our workplace as any other workplace.
02:20But people often overlook that and think it's a free-for-all.
02:25So I think we do want to understand
02:26what the safety ramifications are,
02:29but we don't want to change how we do politics in Australia.
02:32One of the things Helen and I would often talk about
02:34is the joy of being out in the community
02:37and how it's so important to be there and available and listening,
02:41and we don't want to lose that in Australia.
02:44Do you think there's been a change in political discourse
02:47in your time in office?
02:49I think it has been polarised.
02:52I certainly think since COVID,
02:54there's been a rise of conspiracy theorists,
02:58rejection of facts over conspiracies,
03:03and I think the internet, social media,
03:08has really polarised people,
03:09pushes people into dark corners with information
03:12that is not correct,
03:14but it kind of polarises and preys on people.
03:17I think there's a change in political...
03:18..in leadership discourse as well
03:21in terms of what is acceptable conduct and behaviour.
03:25I mean, yesterday we were dealing with, you know,
03:29the revolting cartoon that Pauline Hanson and One Nation
03:33have done in relation to Jackie Lambie's personal medical situation
03:37and how inappropriate that is.
03:39And so respect needs to come from all sides in this debate, right?
03:44We can't have...
03:45Yes, there are lone people that will act
03:49and then do horrific things,
03:51but respect is something that is, you know,
03:54we have to nurture it from the top, across the debate,
03:58through question time,
04:00through how we disagree, disagree well, respectfully.
04:04But a lot of people are angry.
04:07I mean, I often hear it on talkback radio.
04:09Some of the shock jocks are appalling
04:12in their level of aggression and anger,
04:14and that feeds into the community.
04:17And I think this is a moment to take stock.
04:22That change that you've observed,
04:24has that changed the way you go about your job?
04:28Not for me personally.
04:30I mean, I think I have at all times tried to call out
04:33and to have more respectful debate.
04:36For me, it's essential to be part of the community.
04:38I'm a community representative.
04:40That's why I got into politics.
04:42I feel great support from my community,
04:45and I really appreciate that.
04:47Just on Sunday, I was at the Crow's Nest Festival
04:49with thousands of people.
04:51And if we had to start second-guessing our security
04:56in those kind of public environments,
04:57it would be really difficult to do our job.
05:01So that trust has to be there
05:04as a representative with your community.
05:07And we are all wishing Helen Haynes the best.
05:10Tell us, what is she like to work alongside?
05:13Oh, she's wonderful.
05:15She's so wise and witty and kind.
05:19She is so calm too.
05:21She's always got a really measured...
05:23..but very witty.
05:24She's actually got a great sense of humour,
05:26and we will often have a good laugh
05:30while we're observing stuff that's going on in Parliament.
05:33She's also recently become a grandmother,
05:35so she's been sharing with me fantastic photos.
05:38And she's so proud of her family, of her kids,
05:41and now a grandchild.
05:45So it's so deeply troubling on so many levels.
05:48But I hope this doesn't deter women
05:51from considering public life.
05:53We know women face a higher level of threat
05:55and aggression in public life.
05:58But it's really important that we don't let hate win.
06:01You know, love has to win.
06:03It's really important for the kind of society we can be.
