What would Helen do? A powerful message from Parliament

Bee Wukwun (0:04)

An empty chair in the lower house of federal parliament was a stark reminder of MP Helen Haines' absence on the first day of a sitting week. Friend and fellow Crossbench MP Zali Stegel placed a cardboard cutout of an orange cockatoo in Helen Haines' seat, a symbol of her campaign, representing community, hope, and optimism. Other MPs wore an orange heart lapel pin in a show of support for the independent MP.

His recovering in hospital after being struck by a four-wheel drive outside her electorate office in regional Victoria. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moved a motion in support of the member for the electorate of Indi and to condemn the act of violence.

Anthony Albanese (0:52)

It is hard to think of anyone in this place with a more irrepressible twinkle in the eye, a twinkle that more than hints at a real inner strength. Last Monday, the member for Indi was just doing a job when she was attacked. While the investigations go on, we must not rush to conclusions. But nor can we shrug off the very real rise in anger that distorts and corrodes our public discourse.

Enabled by the anonymity and speed afforded by social media, we are seeing rage and aggression increasing, not just in politics, but towards workers in hospitality and retail, in schools and in hospitals, towards police, paramedics and other officials. We must not conflate the robustness of Australian democracy with this rising tide of rage.

Bee Wukwun (1:46)

It started a four-hour session of tributes with politicians across the political divide, who were unified in their condemnation of political violence. But they also reflected on what could be done to lift the standard of behaviour inside and outside the parliament.

Liberal MP Andrew Hastie says he spent some time thinking about what must change.

Andrew Hastie (2:08)

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. Beyond this house, we need more Australians like Ricky Jeffries, the local barber who acted like a good neighbour in a moment of crisis, who went towards danger for Helen Haines, who subdued her assailant, who recovered order out of the chaos. We need more good neighbours like Ricky Jeffries, who are more bonded to their local community, and less consumed by the fiery utterances of the community online.

Bee Wukwun (2:46)

Crossbenchers are pushing for more politicians to sign a civility pledge, which was first signed by Helen Haines earlier this year. The pledge was inspired by an initiative to improve politics in the UK after British MP Joe Cox was killed in June 2016 by a far-right extremist during the height of the Brexit campaign.

Fellow Crossbench at Kate Cheney says she's learned a lot from Helen Haines over the years and has been inspired by how she's conducted herself as an effective communicator and an exemplary human.

Kate Chaney (3:20)

Before this week, Helen Haines was the only member of the Australian Federal Parliament who had committed to the civility pledge. And I think that says it all. And right now, I'd like to follow Helen's example. And so I say, in my political life, I pledge to act with honesty, respect, and compassion.

And these simple words embody what Helen means to me and to our political system.

Bee Wukwun (3:44)

Helen Haines made history in 2019 becoming the first independent to succeed another independent in Federal Parliament.

She said that her experience as a former nurse and midwife has informed her approach to politics, valuing life, treating everyone with dignity and respect, and putting listening at the centre of policy development. Addressing the chamber, independent Monique Ryan says she reflects on the question, what would Helen do?

Monique Ryan (4:14)

She acts with all utter integrity and respect for her colleagues. By all accounts, a wonderful nurse and midwife, she's an extraordinary parliamentarian. Global instability and economic insecurity are challenging our social fabric. In an age of shouting but not listening, people are increasingly angry and aggressive.

Last Monday's attack brought into focus the increasingly hostile environment in Australian politics, but it's the same in our hospitals, our schools, our shopping centres and our offices. People say they don't recognise our country. I've been told that many times in the last week, but our basic decency and our selflessness are there, still. And we have to use those muscles, not the others.

Bee Wukwun (4:56)

Opposition leader Angus Taylor says he wants to move on from the despair of what happened to focus on the antidote.

Angus Taylor (5:03)

And the attack on a member of a parliament, our parliament, is an attack on our democracy. Of all days, today is a day to reflect on our democracy. The Westminster system is about settling differences through robust and rigorous debate, not violence. Importantly, we debate with adversarial vigour.