The tragic events of the past week have shown Australians who we are – and it’s a long way from our image of ourselves | Julianne Schultz
News Source
•Sat, 24 Oct 2026 19:00:41 GMT
📰 What Happened
After the alleged attack on Helen Haines, leaders said this is not who Australians are. Writer Julianne Schultz argues the evidence says otherwise. She cites police and spy agency data on threats and abuse.
Within hours, ugly comments spread online. Some said the same should happen to more women. Female MPs described threats, abusive letters and men shouting at their offices.
The governor general, Sam Mostyn, also copped abuse after calling for kindness and respect. Schultz says women know which insults are kept just for them.
🔍 The Backstory
Schultz says the attack did not come from nowhere. She describes a climate that has been heating for years, fed by platforms that reward anger and outrage.
She argues the business model is the problem, not free speech. Posts that make people furious get shared more, so they get shown more.
She calls for real regulation and penalties, not just requests to be nicer. She points to the 1940s, when US media bosses were warned to lift their standards or face tough new laws.
🎯 Why It Matters
Threats against MPs and women are rising, and the posts people read and share help shape that climate. Rules for platforms affect everyone who uses them.
After the alleged attack on Helen Haines, leaders said this is not who Australians are. Writer Julianne Schultz argues the evidence says otherwise. She cites police and spy agency data on threats and abuse.
Within hours, ugly comments spread online. Some said the same should happen to more women. Female MPs described threats, abusive letters and men shouting at their offices.
The governor general, Sam Mostyn, also copped abuse after calling for kindness and respect. Schultz says women know which insults are kept just for them.
Schultz says the attack did not come from nowhere. She describes a climate that has been heating for years, fed by platforms that reward anger and outrage.
She argues the business model is the problem, not free speech. Posts that make people furious get shared more, so they get shown more.
She calls for real regulation and penalties, not just requests to be nicer. She points to the 1940s, when US media bosses were warned to lift their standards or face tough new laws.
Threats against MPs and women are rising, and the posts people read and share help shape that climate. Rules for platforms affect everyone who uses them.