'Loss of innocence': Canberra leaders warn of hateful rhetoric crossing dangerous threshold

The vehicle attack on one of Federal Parliament's most universally respected members has sparked warnings from Canberra's leaders across the political divide that Australia's increasingly toxic political discourse has entered a new threshold.

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The warning came after Indi MP Helen Haines was struck down by a vehicle as she stood at the boot of her own car.

Finance minister and ACT Senator Katy Gallagher, ACT Senator David Pocock and University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten. Inset injured Victorian MP Helen Haines. Pictures: Keegan Carroll, supplied

Speaking on ABC News Breakfast, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the incident an "attack," although the motivation was unclear at the moment.

"It would appear that the driver of the vehicle that inflicted the damage to Helen Haines did a U-turn in order to get back to where Helen Haines was, after passing, where she was getting things from the boot or putting things into the boot of her car," Mr Albanese said.

"So, it's clear that there was a deliberate act here. This wasn't accident, someone, you know, just getting off the road here."

The incident has reignited a desire from politicians to crack down on hateful rhetoric in the political space especially on social media.

Independent senator David Pocock said the political discourse "has to change ... it's become too angry [and] there's too much nastiness".

Senator Pocock shared he received the most threats during the debate on industrial relations at the last parliamentary sitting.

"It's certainly something that my wife, Emma, worries about," Senator Pocock said while highlighting the difference in the scale of the threats received by female politicians.

"Female parliamentarians are clearly the target of far more threats ... talking to crossbench colleagues like Senator Jacqui Lambie and Senator Fatima Payman, and the abuse that they get on social media, on email and calls to their electoral offices is just disgusting".

Minister for Women and Finance Katy Gallagher said although she does not think of the threats she has received too much, it has certainly impacted her family.

"I don't think about it a lot when it happens. Obviously, it's pretty confronting, but I think my family and people just kind of worry about it a bit more," Senator Gallagher said.

Senator Gallagher described the current political climate in the past 18 months as the most "febrile" it had been since the start of her political career.

She attributed it to slipping standards within Parliament itself and a growing desire for "algorithmic endorsement" online that rewarded aggression.

However, she warned against letting intimidation tactics succeed.

"We can't let this change the way we do politics in this country," Senator Gallagher said. "If the aim is to get people to quieten down or change their views or not speak out, then that's not a good outcome either".

Former Labor leader Bill Shorten said the attack was a "loss of innocence" for Australian democracy.

He pointed to a dangerous convergence of social polarisation, targeted harassment campaigns and extremist ideologies festering on the fringes of the internet.

"I think that some people, through the algorithms of the big tech bros and social media, have been radicalised online," Mr Shorten said, adding society had slowly "normalised hate and aggressive behaviour".

"Our politicians are pretty visible, and we also have targeted harassment campaigns ... where it becomes OK for the lynch mob online to target people, and of course it only takes one or two people with mental illness or grievances ... who just say 'well, I have to do this'."

Mr Albanese said while security arrangements would be continuously monitored, the nation must not retreat behind barriers.

"I want Australia to be a country where people can go about their business, where Members and Senators can go to the local shops, can go to the footy and sit on the hill ... because that's the way that we keep in touch," he said.

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