Victorian MPs have expressed concerns about their safety ahead of the state election, with several reporting receiving threatening messages and abuse. Georgie Purcell, an upper house MP, shared a statement on social media in support of Helen Haines, who was allegedly attacked by a constituent earlier this week.
Purcell said that being a woman in politics had changed the way she moved through the world, with her taking precautions such as sharing her live location with staff and using a duress button in emergency situations. Other MPs have also reported receiving threatening messages, including Nationals MP Annabelle Cleeland, who said she was frightened about putting her children in harm's way.
The Victorian government has announced plans to implement stronger safety measures for MPs, including a centralised process for monitoring threats and providing more support for individual complaints. The changes are expected to be communicated to MPs soon.