Haines tribute speeches to open parliament, but Labor mustn’t overlook broader causes of boiling anger | Josh Butler
News Source
•Sun, 25 Oct 2026 14:00:07 GMT
📰 What Happened
Federal parliament opens on Monday with speeches honouring Helen Haines. The independent MP for Indi was critically hurt in an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta office on 21 October. The prime minister is expected to speak first.
The moment is meant to be unifying and bipartisan. But a fight has already started over Labor's digital duty of care bill, which is up for debate this week. The government says the law would make platforms act before harm happens.
The shadow communications minister, Sarah Henderson, accused Labor of using the attack to push the bill. Labor denies it.
🔍 The Backstory
The alleged attack has opened a wider talk about safety for MPs and their staff. MPs reported being sent human faeces and forced to move house. Tanya Plibersek described regular rape threats.
Columnist Josh Butler says the anger has deeper roots: poverty, poor health, high costs and a sense of being left behind. He notes a fifth rate rise may be coming and petrol averages about $2.42 a litre.
He writes that telling people things are going well no longer works, and the surge to One Nation shows it.
🎯 Why It Matters
How parliament behaves this week shows whether politics can cool down. The tone leaders set shapes what people see, share and copy online.
Federal parliament opens on Monday with speeches honouring Helen Haines. The independent MP for Indi was critically hurt in an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta office on 21 October. The prime minister is expected to speak first.
The moment is meant to be unifying and bipartisan. But a fight has already started over Labor's digital duty of care bill, which is up for debate this week. The government says the law would make platforms act before harm happens.
The shadow communications minister, Sarah Henderson, accused Labor of using the attack to push the bill. Labor denies it.
The alleged attack has opened a wider talk about safety for MPs and their staff. MPs reported being sent human faeces and forced to move house. Tanya Plibersek described regular rape threats.
Columnist Josh Butler says the anger has deeper roots: poverty, poor health, high costs and a sense of being left behind. He notes a fifth rate rise may be coming and petrol averages about $2.42 a litre.
He writes that telling people things are going well no longer works, and the surge to One Nation shows it.
How parliament behaves this week shows whether politics can cool down. The tone leaders set shapes what people see, share and copy online.