Good evening. Tonight, I want to update Australians on a serious incident that has occurred in Victoria. This afternoon, Helen Haines, the Member for Indi, was attacked outside her electorate office in Wangaratta. All of our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her friends, her team, and her community at this extremely difficult time. We are praying for her full recovery. I want to thank the first responders for their extraordinary work. There is a major police investigation underway, and I can confirm that a suspect is in custody. The Australian Federal Police, Victorian Police, and ASIO are working together on this. The Joint Counter-Terrorism Team has been activated, but the motive is not known. I’ve spoken with Victorian Premier Ben Carroll, and have been briefed by AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett. It is too early in this investigation for me to provide you with details of what the motivation is behind this attack. My thoughts are also with those who were there in Wangaratta, and Helen’s community more broadly.
Helen Haines is incredibly hardworking. She is fiercely intelligent, but most importantly, she’s just a thoroughly decent human being, full of integrity, and respected right across the Parliament, and from everyone who comes into contact with her. She is a well-loved member of her community, and this will come as an incredible shock to that community Our thoughts remain with Helen Haines at this very difficult time. Minister Burke will make some short comments and then we’ll take just a couple of questions.
TONY BURKE, MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS: Thank you, Prime Minister. As the Prime Minister said, we’re still very early in the investigation, but importantly, someone is in custody, and acknowledges the family statement, acknowledged the bystanders, the health workers, and the police. Last year, or the year before last, we had 951 reports of harassing and threatening behaviour against various high office holders. In the more recent financial year, that 951 has gone to 1,067. At this moment in time, while it is still so early in the investigation, our thoughts are all with Helen, and her family, and her community and her friends. As the Prime Minister said, Helen is respected, admired, and loved.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, was the suspect known to any policy body or agency?
PRIME MINISTER: I’m not about to go into comments about an investigation which is underway and has been underway for a matter of just hours.
JOURNALIST: Did the Government know of any threats made towards Helen Haines and was there any concern around [inaudible]?
PRIME MINISTER: We have made – a range of comments I have made, go look up the interviews in which I’ve done and called for the temperature to be turned down when it comes to political discourse. It is too early though to speculate on motivation, and we won’t be doing so. We’ll allow the authorities to do their work.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, are you aware if Helen Haines recognised the attacker?
PRIME MINISTER: Helen Haines has suffered, this is a serious incident, and so our thoughts are with Helen and her recovery at this time.
JOURNALIST: Can you say what security measures, if any, she was afforded ahead of this attack, by Parliament?
PRIME MINISTER: We organise security arrangements based upon the threat levels which are there. But as Minister Burke said, and as you would be aware, anyone who looks at comments made and directed towards Members of Parliament and high office holders, there is increased, heightened risk has occurred. Our thoughts are just very much with Helen, her family, her community at this time. Thanks very much.
