What would Helen Haines do?

As people struggle in the aftermath of the shocking attack on Dr Helen Haines, the well-respected independent MP for Indi, important questions and opportunities arise that deserve our deep consideration. While this happened in our town of Wangaratta, this attack on one of our community members by one of us, it definitely feels like an attack on all of us. This feeling extends well beyond the boundaries of our electorate, across the nation and overseas.

Some may say this is not a time to talk politics, as Dr Haines fights for her life, but to my mind this is all about politics and we need to have that talk about how we can do politics differently now.

This life-threatening assault on an elected, working member of parliament, who is also a woman, has politics at its heart. It’s about the politics of people not being and feeling heard, people not having their legitimate needs met, people feeling disengaged and hopeless, people being angry and not being able to productively and properly express this. It is about how we do democracy in Australia.

There is a way forward out of this tragedy, a way that has been embraced by the people of Indi and other communities and is championed by Helen Haines. It shows that we can do politics better, that we can harness people’s anger and energy in positive ways that build support networks and allow people to be heard, and their needs to be met.

The feelings of despair and hopelessness are overwhelming, and it is difficult, but we must rise above them. We must ask now what can be done to address our problems as well as the opportunities this tragedy reveals.

I think Helen would be amused that people faced with a challenge often ask themselves: “What would Helen do?” While I don’t speak for her, I know that being the positive, passionate and prudent person that she is, she would do what she has always done: work towards helping us all to be and do better. I know she would do all she could to continue to protect and strengthen our democracy.

Helen is a non-divisive builder of cohesion across communities, and she works extremely hard and effectively to represent her own community. Like Helen, I also believe that we do have the answers now to how we can do politics better in this country.

We cannot let violence win. Out of this terrible tragedy, there is an opportunity to ensure the legacy of this attack on Dr Helen Haines results in a stronger, more vibrant and effective democracy.

Back in May 2012, I was approached by a group of young people calling on me to “do something” as the current political system was not working for them, not delivering what they knew they had a right to demand. They were feeling disillusioned, disappointed and disengaged from democracy: “No one listens to us, Cathy.”

These young people pointed out that severely limited internet and almost no mobile phone coverage made it hard to participate in study, work and community. They described how the many telecommunications black spots were exacerbating risks in emergency situations and how locals endured appallingly poor access to the quality health and education services that other electorates enjoyed. They pointed out that in the time of Ned Kelly, who was from the Indi region, the trains were likely faster and more reliable.

These young people asked me to run as an independent: “Make the seat marginal and get them to listen.”

So, with a novel community-led approach that gained broad support, that’s what we did. We developed the Indi Way, now referred to as the Indi Model. Centred on participatory democracy, community power and a collaborative relationship between constituents and their elected representatives, we built on extensive kitchen table conversations. People willingly signed up to a strong framework of integrity to empower our community and make democracy work for us. The Indi Model operates as a grassroots movement rather than a political party, guiding local communities to determine their own issues and select independent representatives.

This is not to say all these issues have been fully addressed, but the important thing was that we acted.

As both the first independent MP for Indi, as a founder and director for the national Community Independents Project (CIP), as well as a totally committed supporter of community-centred politics, reframing our democracy is my life’s work. The many of us involved in the CIP have demonstrated that putting community at the centre of our politics works. It has worked in Indi. The proof is in the community’s choice of independent MPs in five successive elections. Problems are being solved. Things are getting done. Confidence is being restored. The model is being adopted across the country.  At the CIP convention prior to last year’s election, 1000 people joined, inspiring candidates to run in 55 electorates and organising very successful campaigns in urban and regional areas.

This is local people doing politics differently – it is democracy working at its best. It is people who share a firm belief that they can be the change they want see, and that their work delivers. They know this approach means better candidates, better politics, better outcomes, better representation, and critically, where communities use their power, this builds stronger, more resilient, capable, engaged and more connected communities.

We also know that it takes courage.

Last Sunday I was in Wangaratta, up the street from where Helen was attacked, running a workshop with volunteers, candidates and a campaign team for the community independent running for the state electorate of Ovens Valley. The workshop focused on the skills needed to build this “courage muscle” – they are key to creating a sense of belonging, sharing values and behaviours that will strengthen our capacity to change how politics is done.

These are the foundations of an effective community campaign. Beginning with each individual conversation, we learn how to listen, respect and treat each other as we ourselves like to be treated. Focusing on the individual first, we can shape the longer-term vision for each of us to be responsible for leading change – then our community, and the state and the nation will follow.

This process of committing to agreed values, agreeing on behaviours to reflect these values and holding each other to account is answering a universal need – to belong and to be respected as part of community, to be listened to and heard. The bonus is real political discussion and real representation, and a more vibrant and safe democracy for all.

I find inspiration in this quote from the late American political theorist John Schaar: “The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths to it are not to be found but made. And the making of these pathways changes both the maker and the destination.”

It reminds me that the situation does not have to be this way. We have individual capability, and indeed authority, through our vote, to imagine a different future.

As we move though the grief, the anger and the overpowering sense of hopelessness of this event and what it symbolises, there are points where our emotion can turn into something positive – a tribute to Helen and her work.

The Victorian state election in November will be a bellwether for the nation. I know what Helen would be doing. She would be doing her utmost to make it our best ever in terms of respect, encouraging us all to be people of integrity and to hold each other to account, to live by our values.

Do we have the courage in this election to commit to being our best selves, to listening courageously, to respectful engagement, and to take individual responsibility to bring about the change we want to see?

We cannot let violence win. Out of this terrible tragedy, there is an opportunity to ensure the legacy of this attack on Dr Helen Haines results in a stronger, more vibrant and effective democracy.

All candidates – all women – must know they can run for office and be safe.