Helen Haines’s first words after an alleged attack last week were to ask about the safety of her staff and express gratitude to bystanders and doctors.
Allegra Spender, the MP for Wentworth, told parliament on Monday that Haines’s husband, Phil Haines, had revealed the Indi MP expressed gratitude to bystanders who came to her rescue outside her Wangaratta electorate office.
Haines is in a serious but stable condition after the alleged attack, which led to her losing both legs. A ۴۳-year-old man has been charged and the incident continues to be investigated.
“Phil told us about your first words when you woke up after the attack,” Spender told parliament as she paid tribute to Haines.
“Your first concerns when you awoke were for your staff and gratitude to the first responders, nurses and bystanders.
“That exactly speaks to the character of who you are.
“People have spoken about your empathy and grace, and they deserve recognition. But I think it paints a sort of picture of you as a sort of benign force wandering through the parliament. What I will say is that you are also a force for change.”
‘Like a stone in our hearts’
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, led tributes on Monday. MPs wore baby’s breath flowers and orange heart lapel pins in the chamber. An orange cockatoo, synonymous with Haines’ local campaign, has been placed at her seat in the House of Representatives.
Albanese called her “a fighter” and said the shock from the alleged attack was “like a stone in our hearts”.
He urged politicians and voters not to 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 are seeing a normalisation of the language of grievance and violence.”
The episode has created debate about the safety of MPs and the state of the political environment.
But the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, and the One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce have rejected calls for a change in parliamentary practice to cool Australia’s political debate.
“In the past week, it has been suggested by some there is a causal connection between robust parliamentary debate and political violence,” Taylor said. “I disagree with this view.
“The Westminster system is about settling differences through robust and rigorous debate, not violence.
“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.”
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He said Labor had been right to call out far-right extremism in Australia but called for all extremism to be rejected. He said judges should “come down harder” on people found guilty of intimidation or violence.
“Another thing we must do is celebrate Australia more readily. Too many Australians have been taught to feel guilty and shame about our country and about our history.
“Is it any wonder that some feel deep animosity towards our democracy, our institutions, and our nation?”
Joyce told News۲۴ his thoughts and prayers remained with Haines and her family, calling the alleged attack “so unAustralian”.
“Unfortunately what we’re seeing in Australia and around the world is a change in dynamics,” Joyce said. “I think parliament has got its part to play but I don’t think its going to be a solution to the problem.
“The issues, such as the Palestinian march across the [Sydney Harbour] Bridge, the vindictive, arsenic type of rhetoric that we see in the public realm, these are all part of it.
“I think it’s foolish to think if question time changes, Australia changes. Not necessarily, in fact highly unlikely.”
MPs are being encouraged to sign on to a civility pledge this week, promising to act with honesty, respect, and compassion.
The speaker, Milton Dick, told parliament all MPs were thinking of Haines and praying for her recovery.
“We look forward to the day you return to this place, and I get to say the following nine words: ‘I give the call to the member for Indi.’”
