Angus Taylor criticised for ‘tone deaf’ response to alleged attack on Helen Haines

Zali Steggall and Monique Ryan say Coalition leader was wrong to deny link between parliamentary debate and political violence

Angus Taylor has been criticised for his response to the alleged attack on Helen Haines, with crossbenchers Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall labelling a speech by the opposition leader “tone deaf” and saying he did not “read the room”.

Parliament returned in Canberra on Monday, a week after an alleged attack outside the Indi MP’s northern Victorian electorate office, which led to her losing both legs. A 43-year-old man has been charged and the incident continues to be investigated.

Former Liberal leader Peter Dutton told News24 he believed more violence against politicians was “inevitable” in Australia. Police have not revealed any established motive for the Haines attack.

“It came as no surprise to me, I am sorry to say. I think it has been building for a long period of time,” he said on Monday.

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The episode has sparked debate about the safety of MPs and the state of the political environment, including the culture of parliamentary debates.

The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, and the One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce have rejected calls for a change in practice to cool Australia’s political debate.

“In the past week, it has been suggested by some there is a causal connection between robust parliamentary debate and political violence,” Taylor said. “I disagree with this view.

“The Westminster system is about settling differences through robust and rigorous debate, not violence.

“Importantly, we debate with adversarial vigour, but we never allow that vigorous parliamentary debate to spill over into violence. People who resort to intimidation and violence cross a line that must never be crossed.”

He said Labor had been correct to call out far-right extremism in Australia but called for all extremism to be rejected. He said judges should “come down harder” on people found guilty of intimidation or violence.

“Another thing we must do is celebrate Australia more readily. Too many Australians have been taught to feel guilty and shame about our country and about our history.

“Is it any wonder that some feel deep animosity towards our democracy, our institutions, and our nation?”

Joyce told News24 his thoughts and prayers remained with Haines and her family, calling the alleged attack “so unAustralian”.

“Unfortunately what we’re seeing in Australia and around the world is a change in dynamics,” Joyce said. “I think parliament has got its part to play but I don’t think it’s going to be a solution to the problem.

“The issues, such as the Palestinian march across the [Sydney Harbour] Bridge, the vindictive, arsenic type of rhetoric that we see in the public realm, these are all part of it.