Members of Parliament and Mayors stand united in condemnation of the violent attack upon our Federal Member for Indi, Dr. Helen Haines, in Wangaratta yesterday.
Our thoughts are with Helen, her family, her staff, and all those affected by this deeply distressing incident.
We are each affected.
Personal threats, all forms of intimidation, and acts of violence have absolutely no place in our democracy or in our communities.
Helen represents the best of public service. Her commitment to integrity, her respectful engagement in debate, and her sense of democracy and peace are the example we should aspire to.
We should challenge our elected representatives; we should question their decisions; we should demand better of them. But there is a line. That line is crossed the moment we decide that disagreement gives us permission to abandon our humanity. We are better than this. And we must demand better.
We will not allow intimidation to silence public voices. Decency still outweighs division, and our communities reject hatred, violence, and fear. We will not allow violence to discourage participation in civic life. And we will not allow the values of democracy to be diminished by those who seek to undermine them.
Today, we stand with Helen. Tomorrow, we continue the work of building communities where differences are debated with respect, where people feel safe to serve, and where hope is stronger than fear.
We are better than this. We know we are. And together, we must demand better, expect better, and be better.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Tim McCurdy MP, Member for Ovens Valley
Bill Tilley MP, Member for Benambra
Cindy McLeish MP, Member for Eildon
Annabelle Cleeland MP, Member for Euroa
Mayor Nicholas, Alpine Shire Council
Mayor Hearn, Benalla Rural City Council
Mayor Price, Indigo Shire Council
Mayor Rabie, Mansfield Shire Council
Mayor Gallagher, Murrindindi Shire Council
Mayor Jeffery, Strathbogie Shire Council
Mayor Tolsher, Towong Shire Council
Mayor Grant, Rural City of Wangaratta
Mayor Gobel, Wodonga Council