Monday was an historic day in Parliament.

The members were somber, restrained, heartfelt, determined, insistent.

Voices sought an end to the madness of political violence, and to pull Australia and its political culture back from further descent into recurring horrors.

They paid tribute to Helen Haines and what she stood for, and expressed deep hope for Australia’s future and the quality of our democracy.

In hearing and absorbing the news of the horrific injury inflicted on Haines, I was flooded with memories from an eerily similar horror in the United States 15 years ago.

Gabrielle Giffords, a highly regarded member of the US House of Representatives from Arizona, was serving her third term. On January 8, 2011, she was gunned down and almost killed at her electorate office. Six others were murdered, and 12 seriously injured. 

It took years for Giffords’ speech and mobility to recover. Her mind was sound. Her path back was like climbing Everest every year.

On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not have to consult any other similar nightmares to speak the words that helped bring the nation together.

“Most importantly, [Haines] is just a thoroughly decent human being full of integrity and respected right across the Parliament and everyone who comes in contact with her,” he said.

Then he turned to Australia’s political culture, and the hate within it.

“I’ve called for the temperature to turn down when it comes to........

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