EDITORIAL: Attack on Haines a dark day for the nation

Just a day before she was allegedly pinned between two vehicles by a man driving a four-wheel-drive in a brutal attack that left her in a critical condition, Helen Haines told of her pride in the nation.

The Independent Federal MP for the seat of Indi, in Victoria, posted on Facebook about presenting the national flag to local students.

“Our national flags are powerful symbols of who we are as Australians — our history, our values and the country we’re proud to call home,” Dr Haines posted.

“I hope these flags inspire pride in our country and conversations about what it means to be Australian.”

Her parlous condition in hospital is the result of what up until now was viewed as something which happened in other parts of the world. But not here.

Sadly, now it has. To a woman doing nothing other than innocently getting things out of the boot of her car.

Brendan Nugent, 43, from Tarrawingee, near Wangaratta, was in police custody on Tuesday after allegedly using his vehicle to ram Dr Haines outside her electorate office on Monday afternoon.

The 65-year-old mother-of-three suffered catastrophic lower-body injuries and was airlifted to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery.

There has been an outpouring of support for Dr Haines from across the political spectrum.

And calls to take the heat out of political debate.

ASIO Director General Mike Burgess spoke of his concerns about the use of violent rhetoric across society.

“While political differences, debates and peaceful protests are essential parts of a healthy democracy, ASIO has seen direct correlations between inflamed language, inflamed tensions and acts of violence,” the intelligence chief said.

“Words matter,” Mr Burgess cautioned. “I genuinely believe the temperature of our security environment would be several degrees lower if we recommitted to conversing with civility, debating with respect and disagreeing with restraint.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said disagreements must not come at the expense of respect.

“We all have a responsibility . . . to turn the temperature down. We can disagree with each other but do it in a respectful way,” he said.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said it was a “dark day for Australia”.

“Our nation cannot become a place where these kinds of acts are normalised. We have long been able to resolve in our country differences of view,” he said.

Some have pointed to the influence of social media in inflaming debate.

There is no doubt that social media can be a nasty place. Sadly, it is also in many ways a reflection of wider society.

It is entirely right for all of us to urge a more respectful level of discourse.

Being able to exchange views without fear is a crucial component of our way of life and system of government.

But it is also true that political leaders can do themselves no favours at times.

At what is a tragic time for Dr Haines and her family, and a dark day for the nation, it is important our leaders now take their own advice about engaging in a respectful manner.