Threats to MPs triple as federal MP calls for cultural reset in parliament
Threats to MPs tripled in three years as political debate turns hostile, warns MP Allegra Spender.
Allegra Spender, a federal independent, has warned parliament about a serious shift in how politicians treat each other and how Australians view dissent. Question time often falls into personal attacks.
MPs call colleagues 'traitors' and worse. Threats and harassment reports to the Australian Federal Police have more than tripled in three years.
A McKinnon Index survey found something even more concerning. Almost one in ten Australians believe violence can be justified for a political cause.
Spender says the real problem is cultural, not just about security. Social media increases outrage by design, she says.
But the deeper issue is that aggression has become normal at the highest level. This can shape who vulnerable people focus on.
'We have crossed lines as a country,' she writes. She calls on all Australians to insist on respect and dignity in public disagreement.
- 279 in 2020-21 to over 1000 in 2023-24
- Threats surge
- Australian Federal Police reports
- Where tracked
- October 20, 2026
- Published
Why it mattersWhen political debate turns nasty, it can lead to real-world harm. It also damages the democratic system Australians rely on to settle disagreements peacefully.
AustraliaAustralian parliamentarians face rising threats. The shift signals a breakdown in the norms that have kept Australia's political system stable and relatively free from violence compared to many democracies.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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