'I'm tired of it': WA minister reveals extent of online abuse after attack on MP

WA politicians have voiced their concerns about an increasingly hostile political landscape in the west, and the limited options available to address it, after an attack on federal MP Helen Haines.

The ABC has confirmed the federal member for Indi has lost a leg after being pinned between two cars outside her electorate office in Victoria yesterday. 

The incident has sent shock waves through the nation's political class and dominated conversations amongst those arriving at parliament in Perth this morning.

Nationals MP Lachlan Hunter said he was concerned about the "dire consequences" which could come from the "all time high" threat level currently facing public figures.

"I've got two electorate offices, all of which are manned by a female, a single female, five days a week," the Central Wheatbelt MP said.

"I've got one office in the eastern part of my electorate that doesn't even have security cameras.

"There are real, practical things that are, I think, a really live threat to members of parliament and their staff and their families."

Mr Hunter called for a state-wide review of electorate office security, as well as measures to protect Parliament House.

In February a 20-year-old man was charged with planning an attack on Western Australia's parliament, police headquarters and Muslim places of worship. 

Police Minister Reece Whitby said security measures had been reviewed around parliament in the wake of the alleged attempted attack, and that he had spoken with the police commissioner last night.

"We can always look to do better, and that's a matter for the parliament," he said when asked about Mr Hunter's claims of an office lacking CCTV.

Social media driving anger

Mr Whitby said it was the role of politicians to be present in their communities, but said social media was a driver of increasing hostility in politics.

"When you have that vile, ugly, abusive sort of language, and some in the political system are actually egging this on and leaning into it, it actually makes it some people [who] have gone down the rabbit hole and they're radicalised, it gives them license to carry out actions. That is a real danger," he said.

"This crap you see on social media about this person's a patriot or this person's a traitor, that's imported MAGA rubbish from America. That's not how Australians are."

Asked whether he was talking about One Nation, Mr Whitby said "you can make your own minds up about that".

Housing Minister John Carey said social media platforms were not doing enough to regulate content online, saying "there wouldn't be a week goes by that I'm not called a paedophile, where there [is not] some sort of threat on social media".

Mr Carey pointed to one example where he had shared a podcast he had recorded with primary school students in his electorate of Perth.

"And someone wrote, 'I don't know whether John Carey's seeking to solicit votes or groom this child'.

"Now that's sick. I'm tired of it, and they get away with it.

"In fact, what I'm starting to do now, and I encourage other MPs, is contact their employers. Tell people, because it is only through shame [things will change], or I repost some of their comments."

'So toxic'

There was a "collective responsibility" among political parties to turn down the temperate of debate, he said, but questioned whether that would change what was being shared on social media.

"Some of this stuff now is so gross, so toxic, anyone in public life questions why they're here," Mr Carey said.

"But also, it's going to push away ordinary people from being in public life."

Fellow cabinet minister Simone McGurk said while she did not personally feel threatened, women were particularly targeted by online hate.

She added that electorate office staff were often on the receiving end of "abuse and aggression" too.

"I think this is an opportunity for us all to think a bit more about how we treat each other in public life," Ms McGurk said.

Opposition leader Basil Zempilas said he would not be changing his engagement with the community as a result of the attack on Dr Haines, and said the impact on families of public figures should not be forgotten.

"Family members of public figures are rightly always concerned, and have in the back of their minds 'is my loved one, going about their duty, going to be safe?'" Mr Zempilas said.

"And that's what this situation highlights. It's often not just the elected member who steps forward, inadvertently their family also steps forward."