Bridget McKenzie fears MPs will ‘retreat from the public square’ following alleged attack on Helen Haines – as it happened

<p>This blog is now closed</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p><strong>Political debate should be ‘robust but respectful’, Anne Ruston says</strong></p><p>A day after MPs addressed the House of Representatives <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/26/albanese-leads-helen-haines-tributes-as-parliament-pauses-ntwnfb">paying tribute to the independent</a> <strong>Helen Haines</strong>, who was injured after an alleged attack in her electorate, the Liberal senator <strong>Anne Ruston</strong> maintains that respect is necessary in political debate.</p><p>What we do here sets the tone for what the rest of the nation thinks is acceptable.</p><p>There is a huge responsibility on politicians, not to shy away from robust debate. I don’t want anyone to think that we shouldn’t be having strong debate.</p><p>It’s simply out of control in an online world and we’ve got to make the platforms accountable.</p><p>Facebook is the worst in terms of the platforms, Instagram and TikTok less so, but still bad.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/oct/27/one-nation-pauline-hanson-independent-jacqui-lambie-labor-anthony-albanese-coalition-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>