Disagreement is part of democracy, but abuse and violence have no place in it
Last week, Australians watched in disbelief as independent federal MP Dr Helen Haines was critically injured in an alleged attack outside her electorate office. Our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her staff and the community she has served.
The motive still remains unclear, and the matter is before the courts. But the shock felt across the country has prompted a national conversation about how we treat those who put their hands up to serve. As the Governor-General said, this must be a moment for us to pause and choose to be better.
For local government, this conversation is not new. When the Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) surveyed Tasmanian councillors in 2024, 80 per cent reported experiencing abuse or intimidation from members of the community over the previous two years. Social media was the most common setting, followed by verbal abuse in public. Some councillors reported receiving death threats, being followed in their cars, installing extra security at their homes and seeking counselling as a direct result of this behaviour. More than a third said they felt at risk simply doing their job.
Councillors are uniquely exposed. They live in the communities they represent and are approached at the supermarket, at the footy and, all too often, in their own driveways. That accessibility is one of local government’s greatest strengths, and we want to keep it. But it must never come at the cost of personal safety.
Half of the councillors who told us they would not re-stand at this year’s local government elections said abuse was the reason. Every capable, committed person who walks away – or never puts their hand up – leaves our communities poorer and our democracy weaker. No job description should require a thick skin and a tolerance for abuse.
That is why LGAT launched Lift the Tone, a campaign built on a simple idea: we all share responsibility for the standard of public debate. Thirteen Tasmanian councils have formally backed the campaign, and video testimonials from elected representatives have reached more than 200,000 people. Many MPs, community leaders and councillors have signed our pledge to promote civility, refrain from abusive language and behaviour and encourage others to engage respectfully.
This is not about shielding elected representatives from scrutiny. They should be held accountable for their decisions. But accountability does not make anyone fair game for abuse. We can disagree without disrespect, and abuse online is no more acceptable than abuse face-to-face.
No one can draw a straight line from harsh words to any single act of violence. But we know that when hostility is normalised, public life becomes less safe and less appealing for everyone – particularly women, who continue to face a disproportionate share of threats.
As Tasmanians choose who will represent them on council for the next four years, I ask every one of us to visit the LGAT website and sign the pledge. We all have a responsibility to Lift the Tone.
Dion Lester - Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Association of Tasmania.