Joining us now is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Good morning to you, Prime Minister. Of course, our thoughts are with Helen Haines and her family this morning. Do you have any update on her condition?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Helen remains in hospital in a critical condition. I spoke with her husband Phil last night, and she underwent surgery last night. And all Australians’ thoughts are with the family, with her many friends, with her community. Helen Haines is someone of integrity. She’s greatly admired right across the political spectrum. She’s someone who’s characterised by her kindness, her diligence, her intelligence, someone who is so proud of representing that beautiful part of Victoria. And this is a tragic situation. And our thoughts are with her this morning and today and we hope for a full recovery.
MONIQUE WRIGHT, HOST: Yeah, we’ve heard her described by fellow parliamentarians as the very best of us. What a lovely thing to say. You’ve described this as an attack and you say was deliberate. What more do we know about the suspect?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, the police have a suspect in detention, and the police are going through their investigation. It’s being led by Victoria Police, but in conjunction with the Australian Federal Police and ASIO through the Counter-Terrorism Task Force which has been established. I’ll be briefed later this morning, as well, with Premier Ben Carroll, and we’ll allow the police to do their investigation. It’s important here that people allow that process to take place, that we deal with facts rather than speculation. And at this stage, it’s not clear what the motivation of this attack was.
WOIWOD: That motivation, as you say, it is unclear, but you have activated a joint counter terror unit there. Can you explain what went into that decision, then?
PRIME MINISTER: The AFP made that decision in partnership with the Victoria Police, based upon the fact that this was a deliberate act. Now, the motivation is not clear at this point in time, but it is clear that this wasn’t just an accident. This was an attempt to harm Helen Haines in Wangaratta outside of her electorate office. Helen was getting things from the boot of her car when this incident occurred. And so, the police will no doubt continue to interview the suspect in this case and will come to a determination. And we have made as much public as possible in a very short period of time. But at this stage, of course, our thoughts are not so much with the suspect. Our thoughts are with Helen Haines this morning.
WRIGHT: Yes, absolutely. And everyone who loves her. We’ve been hearing you talk for months about turning down the temperature on political discourse in this country in particular. Where do we start? How do we do that?
PRIME MINISTER: We start by having respectful debate and all of us are responsible for that, whether we’re politicians, whether we’re the media, whether we’re citizens, in just being able to discuss things in a civil way. We can have disagreements in a democracy, but you can have disagreements without question questioning people’s motives or their patriotism. I think that we all love this country, Australia, and we have a great democracy and we have a great deal of pride as well, that unlike in some parts of the world, the truth is that members and senators can get about their community, can go to big events without any security and do so. And I find that even as Prime Minister, going to the shops and getting food for the dog or what have you, supplies, enables you to just talk with people, whether it’s there at the footy or out and about at community events. It’s really important that we don’t lose that. That’s a cherished part of our democracy. It’s the way in which people can engage as citizens with their representatives. And Helen Haines was one of the best at that. She’s someone who was deeply embedded in her community there in the northern part of Victoria, and she’s someone who was widely respected in that community, which is why she received such strong support at the ballot box, but why also she was very much loved. I have been to that electorate, to businesses and to events there in Wodonga and around that part of Victoria. And Helen Haines is very much loved and respected. And this will be a community that are hurting this morning and that are shocked and that are praying for a speedy recovery for Helen.
WOIWOD: Prime Minister, you pointed out there it is a cherished part of our democracy that you can just bump into your elected representative down the street. But with 1,067 reports of threatening and harassing behaviour against our federal MPs and high office holders, is it now time to review those security arrangements for our local MPs? Will you be beefing up security for yourself and your Cabinet?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, we take the advice of the security agencies, including, of course, the Australian Federal Police. And we act upon that advice. But I never want to lose the opportunity for people to mix with their representatives. That’s a really important part of our democracy. But we continue to take advice. Look at the number of charges that have been laid against people making threats. We need to not normalise this activity. What we need to do is to make sure that the normal interaction that occurs is one that is respectful. As I say, agreeing to disagree is a part of a democracy. And we don’t want people to not engage in political discourse because politics affects people’s lives. We want to encourage people to participate and to have their say and to do so in a way, though, that doesn’t create tension and in a way that is respectful. I think that’s the sort of way that Helen conducted herself. Helen was a kind, caring advocate. She’ll continue to be so. She’s someone who has, I think, such respect because of, in part, the way that she conducts herself. But she’s also very passionate about issues, and particularly health issues and issues of regional economic development and employment in that part of Victoria.
WRIGHT: Yeah, well, violence is not who we are. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, thanks so much for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
WOIWOD: Thank you.
