Independents Criticize Taylor Over Haines Remarks

Angus Taylor faces fresh criticism from two independent members of parliament regarding his remarks on the safety of the House.

The opposition leader addressed the chamber one week after the alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines outside her electorate office in northern Victoria. Haines lost both legs in the incident. A 43-year-old man is currently charged, and police continue their investigation without disclosing an established motive.

Monique Ryan and Zali Steggall described Taylor's speech as tone deaf and noted that he failed to read the room. Taylor rejected the notion that parliamentary behavior feeds political violence. He stated that the Westminster system exists to settle differences through rigorous debate rather than violence, arguing that those who use intimidation cross a line that must never be crossed.

Taylor also urged judges to come down harder on those found guilty of intimidation and called for Australia to be celebrated more readily. He suggested that too many people had been taught to feel guilt and shame about the country's history.

Steggall, who sits beside Haines in the lower house, said she was personally disappointed in the speech. She asserted that there is a link between words and actions and argued that Taylor had not grasped the lesson Haines would want people to learn. She added that the same care should apply to media reporting, election advertising, and social media.

Steggall spoke with Phil Haines, Helen's husband, in Canberra on Monday. Phil Haines asked MPs to raise the bar so that a meaningful shift toward respectful debate would occur by the time Helen Haines returns. Ryan called Taylor's response hugely disappointing and questioned how he could aspire to lead a political party if he did not believe the words used in politics matter.

Former Liberal leader Peter Dutton told News24 that more violence against politicians in Australia was inevitable. He said the trend had been building for a long period of time. One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce also opposed changing parliamentary practice, calling the alleged attack so unAustralian and noting that a change in question time alone would not solve the problem.