Cheek Media chief executive Hannah Ferguson has revealed she received at least 20 death threats in the past year, as an alleged attack on Victorian MP Helen Haines renewed warnings about the risks faced by women in public life.
Haines was struck by a vehicle outside her office in Wangaratta and remains in hospital fighting for her life. Brendan Nugent, 43, has been taken into custody while police investigate, with the motive yet to be established.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said it was “clear” the incident was not an accident.
Speaking after the incident, Ferguson said every woman in Australian politics had experienced abuse of some kind and that the situation was discouraging women from seeking or remaining in public office.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Helen and her family,” she said. “But every woman in Australian politics has experienced this kind of abuse.”
Ferguson cited surveys by Women for Election Australia which found that 50 per cent of women in public life had reconsidered whether they would stand again because of the abuse they faced.
“We actually need our elected leaders to now take action that protects more women in Australia and women in public life,” she said.
‘It only takes one serious threat’
Ferguson said the alleged attack on Haines raised wider questions about violence against women, while acknowledging that the circumstances were still being investigated.
She described Haines as “one of the best members of Parliament” and said the MP was among the least contentious and least inflammatory figures in Australian politics.
“When we see a woman like Helen Haines targeted, I think it speaks to a bigger issue of male violence against women in Australia as well,” Ferguson said.
She said threats were often dismissed by those receiving them, making it difficult to determine whether an abusive message represented a genuine physical danger.
“I think we’ve got to remember that it only takes one serious threat,” Ferguson said.
She added that she had given police a statement after reporting one threat against her, but had received no response when she later tried to follow it up.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said threats against politicians had increased sharply and warned that violence could damage Australian democracy.
“The threats of violence have gone through the roof in the time I’ve been there,” she said. “Rape and death threats are regular.”
Plibersek said elected representatives should still be able to meet members of the public in ordinary settings, despite political disagreements.
“This sort of attack is horrific for Helen and her community, but it is a terrible thing for our democracy if politicians have to separate themselves from the public,” she said.
Ferguson, who has expressed an interest in entering politics, said she remained determined to pursue a public career.
“I think these actions sometimes are supposed to want to remove women from public life,” she said. “And it’s important that people continue standing up and fighting like Helen Haines does.”
