WA minister details torrent of misogynistic abuse

Western Australia's women's interests minister has revealed some of the violent misogynistic abuse she and her staff have received in recent weeks, saying it has not abated despite the alleged attack on federal independent MP Helen Haines in Victoria.

WARNING: The following story discusses self-harm and contains details some readers may find distressing.

Ms McGurk said a staff member in her office had been called a "f***ing c***" just yesterday by a constituent over the phone, and she had been "inundated by violent direct messages" last month.

She said she had suffered a torrent of abuse after posting a video criticising a skit by American comedian Shane Gillis on Saturday Night Live, in which he labelled women "whores" for wearing "bait-coloured" shorts to the gym.

"People said: 'kill yourself', 'suicide is free', 'I hope your kids get AIDS' and 'die slow, bitch'," she said.

"I had an obscene message that my young electorate staff got greeted [by] the next morning on our voicemail telling me to 'shut the f[***] up and stay out of American politics c[***]'."

Speaking at a business breakfast, Ms McGurk said she had "never seen such hatred and vitriol" in politics.

"It's resulting in real dangers for the community, and real dangers for women in public life in particular,"

she said.

It comes after Ms Haines lost both of her legs in an alleged attack outside her electorate office last month.

Days later, a man was charged with threatening staff at the electorate office of state minister Hannah Beazley.

Ms McGurk — who was first elected to state parliament in 2013 — said the rise in online hatred in particular was "frightening", and that it was both the far-right and the far-left "using much of the same rhetoric".

"'All politicians are shit', we're all corrupt, we're all liars. I mean, that's coming from the left in my electorate," she said.

"What does that do to instil confidence?

"It does actually come, not from anonymous people on the internet, it actually comes from people in public life, on the ground, and they are some of the areas that I think need to be called out."

Social media essential

Despite those concerns, Ms McGurk was adamant that engaging on social media was necessary for politicians.

"The reality is that that's how we communicate with our electorates, with people that we're seeking to engage with," she said.

"So as much as I am concerned about the temperature and the vitriol that can exist online, I also experience a lot of good things as well.

"I get a lot of good feedback, positive messages. People in my electorate will say 'I didn't realise you were so busy, you do a lot'."

Ms McGurk said it was up to all community leaders to play their part in fostering a "respectful, informed public debate" including by calling out misinformation.

She added that the state government was playing its part by undertaking "significant work" to address domestic and sexual violence, including updating laws.

"Recent events are a stark reminder that we have a long way to go, but as a government we are determined to create the foundation for cultural change and ultimately prevention," she said.