Andy Meddick reveals horror toll of vile death threats

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick believes a politician could be murdered after an unprecedented rise in abuse.

Every Victorian MP and their staff would be given private security where required, as fears grow unprecedented abuse over pandemic laws could result in a politician being murdered.

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick will next week call on the parliament to ramp up security measures.

Mr Meddick said he was fearful Victoria was on the verge of experiencing events seen recently in the UK, where British MP Sir David Amess was assassinated.

“We need to be really careful. It’s time now for the parliament to say while it won’t be necessary 24 hours a day, the capacity should be there to ramp up security - even if it’s personal - for all MPs and staff,” he said.

“There’s a lesson to be learnt from what we saw overseas. They didn’t think it would happen until it actually did.”

Mr Meddick and his upper house colleagues – Greens’ Samantha Ratnam and Reason’s Fiona Patten – have been targeted over the government’s proposed pandemic bill.

Ms Ratnam said: “This isn’t the first time I have been threatened and harassed by the far-right, but the level of misinformation and fear being spread right now is escalating and dangerous.”

Animal Libertion Party MP Andy Meddick. Picture: Peter Ristevski

While the vast majority of politicians drive into, or are driven into the parliamentary complex, Mr Meddick said the added security would be used on a needs basis, adding that he was particularly worried about Ms Ratnam and Ms Patten.

“If there’s no protection around them, someone could easily come up behind them and attack them,” he said.

Politicians are bracing for more hostile protests when parliament sits on Tuesday.

Earlier this week Mr Meddick revealed he had received threats that his family would be “exposed to snipers and kidnappers” if he voted in support of the proposed pandemic Bill next week.

Mr Meddick also found handmade posters in his letterbox after protesters found his personal address.

Mr Meddick’s team this week received a letter which contained a condom with the words “enjoy some of my fresh herpes!”.

“Andy Med-dick, why are you supporting dictator Dan’s pandemic bill?,” it read.

“You are a f-----g c--t! Betrayed all vegans and freedoms that we have you c--t. You claim to stand for us but you are a dildo to dictator Dan’s butt hole!.”

The anonymous letter also made offensive references to Mr Meddick’s openly transgender children.

Fiona Patten of the Reason Party has also revelaed she has recieved death threats. Picutre: Getty Images

“(They) are as f----d up as you are in the head!”

Another letter sent to his Geelong office stated: “Word on the streets is should you sign the Bill as you did last time you and family will be exposed to snipers and kidnappers alike at times you expect it least”.

The incidents have been reported to parliament security who will pass the matter on to the police.

Mr Meddick told the Herald Sun his office was receiving about 25 written letters a day - with on average about three being of a personal, abusive and threatening nature.

“These letters and messages are becoming a daily occurrence for my family, my staff and myself,” he said.

“My family have been threatened with being shot, and my kids kidnapped. My staff are scared - they remove their passes on their way in to work to not identify themselves.

“We are strong and so is my family - but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t impacting us.”

Mr Meddick said the proposed legislation was “the instrument we need right now, and hopefully never again”, adding that he had made unpopular decisions “based on reality, and on protecting public health”.

“Others have sought to exploit this terrible situation for cheap political gain. This is what it has caused,” he said.

“In all my time watching and participating in politics I’ve never witnessed this - and never expected to be the target of such gutter attacks.

A letter sent to Meddick.

“Every Victorian has the right to contact their MP. It is an important part of democracy. But many are no longer expressing an opinion or lobbying - they are threatening and inciting violence. Everyone deserves to be safe at work. That includes politicians. Right now, many of us are not.

“I won’t be cowed, I’ll still stand for the overwhelming majority of Victorians who know that hard, horrible decisions had to and continue to have to be made.”

Mr Meddick’s chief of staff, Georgie Purcell, took to social media on Tuesday night to highlight the repeated abuse.

“Some are threatening, some are sick — all of them are wrong,” she said.

“My boss puts on a brave face, but I’ll say it: we’re struggling.

“Everyone has the right to voice opinions to pollies. But not like this.”

Andrews government ministers called out the abuse online on Tuesday night.

Workplace Safety Minister Ingrid Stitt said: “That is appalling … Everyone deserves a workplace free from this kind of abuse.

Veterans Minister Shaun Leane added: “Pathetic. How about all MPs publicly call for this ridiculous low ebb of political discourse be condemned (including the ones that are going out of their way to incite this level of hatred through their blatant misinformation agendas).”

It comes just weeks after Reason Party leader Fiona Patten, who has also been liaising with the government in relation to the Bill, released a video of the online abuse she had been subjected to.

Ms Patten’s Brunswick electorate office was also recently vandalised by a masked vandal, who glued a number of signs on the front window.