Parliament resumes with tributes to Helen Haines amid security concerns and debate over political cartoons
Australian MPs gathered to honour independent MP Helen Haines after a vehicle attack, while officials discussed security, online anonymity, and the controversy over One Nation cartoons.
Parliament reconvened in Canberra with members paying tribute to independent MP Helen Haines, who remains hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle outside her Victorian electorate office and undergoing double leg amputation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to address the chamber, and colleagues such as independent Monique Ryan described Haines as a gentle and principled member.
Speaker of the House Milton Dick called for civility in the chamber, and several MPs are set to sign a “civility pledge” that promises honesty, respect and compassion. Independent Kate Chaney said the pledge is a symbolic way to honour Haines’s contribution.
Liberal MP Dan Tehan told ABC Radio National that while security at Parliament House is strong, the greatest vulnerability lies when politicians are out in their communities. He also warned that anonymous online voices can “do and say anything,” emphasizing the need for accountability.
Cabinet minister Mark Butler said threats to MPs, their families and staff have increased dramatically over his two-decade career, noting a more responsive federal police presence.
In a separate issue, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson defended the party’s “Please Explain” cartoon series, stating the videos have “nothing to do with the tragic attack on Helen Haines” and will not be removed despite criticism that they depict violence against politicians. She accused major parties of seeking to censor the cartoons.
The Victorian auditor-general announced an audit of police cell detention practices after reports that individuals were held beyond the 14-day limit and sometimes transported long distances, potentially breaching human-rights guidelines.
Health minister Mark Butler and women’s minister Katy Gallagher announced the expansion of a pharmacy-based trial that will allow all Australian women to obtain treatment for uncomplicated urinary-tract infections and hormonal contraception without a doctor’s prescription, covering up to $38 per consultation.
A family-run fundraiser for Save the Children in Haines’s name has raised over $1.2 million.