Australian politicians are facing a reckoning over the way they conduct themselves on the floor of parliament as they navigate the fallout from a violent alleged attack on an MP.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Milton Dick is is among those grappling with the implications of the incident which caused Helen Haines to lose both legs.
Speaking to AAP, Mr Dick maintained that robust debate and allowing people to be forthright in their views was a key part of politics, but the way they went about it was crucial.
"The challenge for our parliament, and to be fair every parliament across the world, is ensuring that disagreement remains respectful and focused on ideas and issues," he said.
"We have seen the temperature rise, but there have been serious issues that the opposition and government have been focusing on.
"I firmly believe there is a middle ground where people can be passionate, they can hold strong views, and they can disagree.
"Strong views and mutual respect can coexist."
Mr Dick, who has been the speaker since 2022, said he wouldn't make statements on whether he would crack down in the chamber, noting "every week is different", but said the MPs he had spoken to were united in wanting to do better.
Politicians are divided on how to stop inflammatory debate, with some suggesting Question Time should be scrapped entirely.
Mr Dick said that was not the right approach.
Instead, it was incumbent on social media users and journalists to keep conversations respectful. "I will be using the word respect a lot at this time. It's a key goal," he said.
He said he had been reading back over encouraging messages Dr Haines had sent him over the years, reflecting on difficult times in parliament.
Dr Haines was one of the seconders in parliament to endorse Mr Dick as speaker for a second term in 2025.
"She's one of the few people I could actually speak to about those things, as a crossbencher, as an experienced person," he said.
"It's given me a lot of courage, and strength, as she always has, to look to the future," he said.
President of the Senate, Sue Lines, was also contacted by AAP for comment.