Angus Taylor criticised for ‘tone deaf’ response to alleged attack on Helen Haines
Summary
Australian opposition leader Angus Taylor rejected calls to change parliamentary debate practices after an alleged attack left independent MP Helen Haines without both legs. Independent MPs Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall criticised Taylor’s response, saying political language can affect actions and urging a more respectful debate.Key Facts
- A 43-year-old man has been charged over the alleged attack outside Haines’s electorate office in northern Victoria; the incident remains under investigation.
- Parliament returned to Canberra a week after the alleged attack.
- Taylor said robust parliamentary debate does not cause political violence and argued that violence and intimidation must be rejected.
- Taylor called for judges to impose tougher penalties on people found guilty of intimidation or violence.
- Barnaby Joyce said changes to parliamentary question time would not solve the broader problem.
- Steggall said politicians, the media, election advertising and social media users should consider the impact of their words.
- Ryan described Taylor’s response as “tone deaf” and said political leaders’ words matter.
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