Haines loses both legs as two independents rebuke Taylor's speech

Parliament resumed in Canberra on Monday, one week after Indi MP Helen Haines was attacked outside her electorate office in northern Victoria, an incident that resulted in her losing both legs. The opposition, led by Angus Taylor, faced immediate criticism from two crossbench members over his public response to the event.

Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall described Taylor's remarks as "tone deaf" and stated that he failed to "read the room." The dispute centers on whether the intensity of parliamentary debate contributes to political violence. A 43-year-old man has been charged in connection with the attack, and police have not disclosed an established motive.

In his address, Taylor rejected the notion that rigorous debate causes violence. He argued that the Westminster system is designed to settle differences through debate rather than force, and that those who resort to intimidation cross a line. He also suggested that judges should punish those found guilty of political violence more heavily and that Australia should be celebrated more often, noting that some citizens have been taught to feel guilt about the country's history.

Steggall, the independent member for Warringah who sits beside Haines in the lower house, expressed personal disappointment with the speech. She stated that there is a link between words and actions and argued that Taylor had not grasped the lesson Haines would want people to learn. She extended this standard of care to media reporting, election advertising, and social media.

On Monday, Steggall spoke with Haines's husband, Phil Haines, in Canberra. He asked MPs to raise the bar for respectful debate so that a meaningful shift would occur by the time Helen Haines returns to parliament. "We can disagree respectfully, but words matter and have an impact," Steggall said.

Ryan, the independent member for Kooyong, called the response "hugely disappointing" on ABC TV. She questioned how Taylor aspires to lead a political party if he does not believe the words used in debate matter. She asserted that if parliament cannot rise to the occasion after such an event, it never will.

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce also opposed changing parliamentary practice, calling the attack "so unAustralian." He noted that parliament has a role but would not solve the problem, pointing instead to a change in dynamics and "vindictive, arsenic type of rhetoric" in public life. Former Liberal leader Peter Dutton told News24 that more violence against politicians was "inevitable" and had been building for a long period of time.