Australia is reckoning with a rise in political violence in the wake of the distressing attack on Helen Haines in her electorate. But I want to talk about something else that was unfolding in politics this week - the role of decency and empathy, and why tolerating the lack of it in politics harms democracy.

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Around the world, we are seeing that people are increasingly losing trust that governments are working in their interests. Disagreement and dissent are a critical part of any democracy - it's how change happens, and when it no longer feels like it's working in your interests, it is tempting to write politics off altogether.

"They're all as bad as one another" is a common refrain to hear about members of parliament, but it's not an accurate one.

Take senators Jacqui Lambie and Pauline Hanson. On the face of it, they have a lot of similarities: both women, both senators, both seen as representing regional Australia, each with an unmistakable Aussie accent, but the past few weeks have exposed just how differently they operate in politics.

While Jacqui Lambie was forced to take five months' leave to deal with health issues, Channel Seven revealed Pauline Hanson missed more than two sitting weeks of Parliament, without leave, to travel with Gina Rinehart on her private plane to attend an event at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago.

When Jacqui Lambie returned to Parliament, she bravely told the Senate about her experience with vaginal prolapse - a condition that affects as many as half of all women who have been pregnant - stemming from a back injury sustained during her service in the military. Lambie asked the government to drop a proposed $5000 cap on accessing allied health services for veterans.

"I'm begging you, prime minister," Lambie told the Senate. "We are already suffering enough. Drop the bloody cap. Drop it, mate ... It is so unfair. It is what we do not need. It is enough. Veterans have had enough. Leave us........

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