Governor-General Sam Mostyn has revealed she received abusive comments on her social media accounts overnight after calling for a return to “decency” following the attack on Helen Haines.
Dr Haines’ husband Phil asked the Governor-General to fly to Melbourne to support him as he announced that his wife had undergone a double amputation this week after a car was allegedly driven repeatedly into her legs outside her electorate office.
Ms Mostyn told ABC TV this morning that she was disappointed to find a number of abusive comments on her social media accounts.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn flew to Melbourne to support Helen’s husband Phil after the alleged attack on his wife. Picture: AFP
“I think, like any woman who has stepped up into any position across any part of our society, there is a unique and pernicious form of attack that comes our way. I still receive that online,’’ she told ABC TV.
“In fact, I was just saddened this morning to see some of the comments on my own Instagram page, in capitals with expletives, once again questioning the very nature of what it is that I do.”
Ms Mostyn said she believed part of her job was to remain “optimistic and make sure that our modern, successful Australia continues to do the things that we do so well.”
Brendan Nugent, the man allegedly behind the wheel in the attack on Helen Haines.
Speaking on ABC radio, the Prime Minister said that it was a “remarkable” press conference involving Mr Haines in the terrible circumstances.
“He spoke with such love about Helen’s great characteristics of her heart, which is enormous, and her brain, which of course is also extraordinary,’’ Mr Albanese said.
“She’s an intelligent, diligent local MP who is very compassionate.”
Mr Albanese said MPs were “anxious” because just about every MP has had experience with threats.
“There has been a normalisation of behaviour that can be very aggressive in a way that wasn’t happening a couple of years ago,’’ Mr Albanese said.
Helen Haines with husband Phil before the alleged attack. Picture: Instagram
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling
Mr Albanese was pressed on why social media companies are not prosecuted for publishing hate speech and death threats.
“We have tried a range of measures; next week there is a very modest digital duty of care legislation before the parliament. We’ll wait and see whether it receives support,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio.
“I think they need to have a responsibility to take anything down like that. Yes, that is my view. And we have tried to do a range of legislation.
The independent Member for Indi was hit by a 4wd outside her office in a targeted attack in Wangaratta on Monday. Picture: Tim Carrafa
“In the wake of Bondi, we had legislation about hate speech that we weren’t able to get through the parliament. It didn’t receive the support of either the Coalition or the Greens political party.”
As MPs react with horror to the news of Dr Haines’ injuries, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said women were feeling “defiant” in the wake of the attack on Helen Haines.
“I can’t pretend that women across the parliament aren’t concerned about this. They are,” Senator Gallagher told Today.
“But many of them, and all of that I’ve spoken to, are quite defiant about it too. I mean, we’ve found our place at the table in politics. We now need to make sure that it’s safe and that people are supported to do their job well.”
