The Guardian: AFP commissioner links politicians' rhetoric to threats against MPs
Briefing by News4U · First published
The Guardian reports that Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett says heated political rhetoric and imagery are fuelling threats and abuse against MPs, with women often targeted by sexual violence threats.
The Guardian reports that Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett says politicians’ heated rhetoric and imagery have a direct correlation with the rising volume of threats and abuse reported to the AFP, with some daily threat summaries now running to pages in length. She said the agency has held emergency safety briefings with parliamentarians since the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta office. [1]
Barrett noted that women MPs are more often singled out individually, frequently with threats of sexual violence. She urged Australians to consider the impact of inflammatory political material, citing community reaction to past One Nation cartoons depicting politicians being hit by vehicles. [1]
Sources
- AFP boss says politicians’ heated rhetoric is fuelling threats against MPs
The Guardian · · Full text