Social media platforms “should have a responsibility” to take down death and rape threats, Anthony Albanese says as the attack on independent MP Helen Haines drives a broader conversation about political debate in Australia.
Since Monday’s attack, parliamentarians of all parties have shared details of threats they have received, with several telling NewsWire they would support stronger security measures around electorate offices.
The threats often come over social media and regularly involve death or sexual violence.
Speaking to media on Thursday, it was put to the Prime Minister that news organisations would be penalised for publishing such content and social media platforms should be held to the same standard.
“We have tried a range of measures,” he told ABC Radio, pointing to Labor’s proposed digital duty of care.
He admitted “we haven’t been able to do what we wanted to do”.
“In the wake of Bondi, we had legislation about hate speech that we weren’t able to get through the parliament,” Mr Albanese said.
“It didn’t receive the support of either the Coalition or the Greens political party.”
He said his government would listen to security agencies, debate with parliament “to do what we can to fulfil our obligations to try to keep people safe”, calling the level of threats toward politicians “completely unacceptable”.
“It was incredibly unusual for there to be people charged with threatening MPs 10 years ago,” Mr Albanese said.
“At the moment, there are multiple, like double digits figures, of people before courts for threats made just against myself.”
More to come