The cost of being a female politician

Reflecting on the attack against Australian MP Helen Haines. Plus, good news from around the world, and former MEP Silvana Koch-Mehrin on women and politics

On Monday, a man drove into Australian politician Helen Haines outside her office in the town of Wangaratta – twice. She lost both her legs as a result. The alleged attacker has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury, dangerous driving causing serious injury and causing harm to a public official. More charges could follow. Although police don’t yet know the motive for the attack, Australia’s politicians could have some ideas.

Before this tragedy, they’d been raising the alarm about a “volcano of threats” against them – partially created by a “carcinogenic” online environment. Australian police said threats, largely on social media, against “high office holders” have been ramping up and they are charging nearly one person a week. Women in politics are particularly scared.

“I couldn't even count the number of death threats, rape threats that I've had over the years… The thing that's changed most is the industrial scale of that abuse now,” said Tanya Plibersek, Australia’s minister for social services, in an interview with ABC News this week. “There's always been abuse but I am shocked by the tenor of it.”