Australia politics: Haines’s first words relayed to parliament
Helen Haines’s first words after an alleged attack were relayed to parliament, as MPs paid tribute and debated the role of political language. Haines has been…
CANBERRA — Australia politics has turned to the consequences of political language after Helen Haines’s first words following an alleged attack were relayed to parliament. The independent MP has been granted leave of absence until at least the end of the sitting year, while colleagues called for a more respectful debate.
The dispute sharpened after opposition leader Angus Taylor paid tribute to Haines and denied any connection between robust parliamentary debate and political violence. Independent MPs Zali Steggall and Monique Ryan criticised his remarks, arguing that words used in public life can affect conduct beyond parliament.
Steggall, who sits next to Haines in the lower house, said “there is a link between our words and actions”. She told a press conference shortly before question time that politicians and media should consider the effect of their language, images and election advertising.
“We can disagree respectfully, but words matter and have an impact,” Steggall said. She said Haines’s husband, Phil Haines, had asked MPs to raise the standard of debate so that a meaningful shift would be in place when Helen Haines returned.
MPs challenge Taylor’s remarks
Ryan also said political leaders should listen to security experts who, she said, correlate the tone of political language with rising community aggression. Appearing on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, she described Taylor’s speech as “tone deaf” and “hugely disappointing”, particularly after remarks from Haines’s husband.
“If Angus Taylor doesn’t think that the words that we use matter, I don’t understand how he aspires to lead a political party,” Ryan said. She urged parliamentarians to think about their conduct in the house and in public spaces after what she called an “unthinkable” attack on her crossbench colleague.
The criticism puts the focus on how political debate is conducted, not only on tributes to Haines. The MPs’ comments connect parliamentary speech with wider public communication, including media coverage, social media and material authorised during election campaigns. Their argument is that disagreement can continue, but should not come at the expense of respectful discussion.
Parliament’s response has included tributes to Haines, and MPs plan to place an orange cockatoo sign on her seat. The Guardian’s live coverage also reported that Haines’s first words after the alleged attack expressed concern for staff and bystanders.
Taylor’s position, as reported by the Guardian, was that robust parliamentary debate was not connected to political violence. Steggall said that view missed the lesson she believed Haines’s colleagues should take from what happened.
Haines’s leave runs until at least the end of the sitting year.
Source: theguardian.com
