Australian Small Business Minister Anne Aly has condemned comments made in parliament as “racist” and “misogynistic,” while revealing she received 19 death threats in the last week alone. Gold Coast Liberal National MP Angie Bell stated in the House of Representatives that Aly and the prime minister should be “shamed and stoned in the square” over a decision by the tax office.
Ms Bell's remarks, made before question time on Tuesday, were part of an opposition critique of the Australian Tax Office's decision to prohibit credit card payments for tax bills. She argued that millions of Australians employed by small businesses would be negatively affected by this decision. The Speaker subsequently compelled Ms Bell to withdraw her comments after the government’s leader of the house, Tony Burke, raised concerns about what he described as “physically violent imagery.”
In an Instagram post, Ms Aly stated she has been the subject of consistent death threats, including previous threats using similar language. She described the comments as not only unparliamentary but also fundamentally contrary to Australian values, emphasising the country's stance against violence towards women and brutal methods like stoning.
The Australian Federal Police reported 951 referrals or threats against parliamentarians in the 2024-25 financial year, marking an increase of over 60% in four years. AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw noted last year that female politicians are particular targets, often facing offensive material with derogatory language about their appearance and themes of graphic, sexual violence, sometimes directed at their children.