Statement: Our thoughts are with Helen Haines

Like so many people across the country, we are shocked and deeply saddened by the attack on Helen Haines, the independent member for Indi, outside her electorate office in Wangaratta yesterday.

Helen was one of the first community independents elected to the federal parliament, and the movement she and the Indi community built is part of the reason groups like ours exist. She has served her electorate with decency, intelligence and care for seven years. Our thoughts are with her, her family, her staff and the people of Indi, and our gratitude is with the police and medical teams caring for her. We wish her strength in the recovery ahead.

Why this happened is not yet known, and establishing that is a matter for the police and the courts. But it has happened at a time when abuse and threats against people in public life have been rising for years, and it is worth saying plainly that the heat in our politics is a choice. It can be turned down by the people who take part in it.

That starts with us. This movement exists so that people in Sturt can disagree about what's best for our community without treating each other as enemies. We will keep conducting ourselves that way - arguing the issues as hard as they deserve, and treating the people on the other side of the argument with respect. We would ask the same of everyone in public life, whatever their colours.

People who serve their communities should be safe doing it.