Helen Haines attack must be a turning point for Australia

October 19, 2026 — 7:17pm

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For years, we’ve received warnings that Australia is not immune to the phenomenon of political violence that is a growing problem in affluent, democratic countries around the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic played a part, propelling people disaffected by lockdowns and stay at home restrictions towards radicalisation. International tensions have continued to increase since then while attacks on MPs’ offices have grown following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

In the UK, two MPs – one from Labour and the other a Conservative – have been killed while in office in the past decade, while there have been repeated attempts to attack US President Donald Trump.

And now an attack of what appears to be an overt and targeted act of political violence – directed at........

© Brisbane Times