Victorian MP calls for new rules amid torrent of online abuse

Victorian MP Fiona Patten has called for a code of conduct for politicians after receiving a stream of abuse online, saying “it would not be tolerated in any other workplace”.

Jacinta Allan has been approached about introducing a code of conduct governing MPs behaviour. Andrew Henshaw

Victorian politicians inciting violence, death threats and sexually suggestive comments toward other politicians online needs to be addressed, according to a state MP.

Reason Party Leader Fiona Patten has endured thousands of abusive emails, tweets and messages in the past 24 hours while the debate on the state’s controversial state of emergency legislation was being held in parliament.

In some cases people have made death threats and sexually suggestive comments online, in some cases prompted by online posts by other Victorian MPs opposed to the extension.

Following the barrage of abuse Ms Patten has approached the head of the standing orders committee and government Minister Jacinta Allan about introducing a code of conduct governing MPs behaviour.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“I am pretty robust,” Ms Patten said.

“But what we have here are politicians inciting bad behaviour from the public through social media.

“It would not be tolerated in any other workplace. We don’t let footballers act like that online to other footballers.”

Ms Patten declined to name names but said at least one Liberal politician made sexual innuendoes while commenting online about her stance in negotiations that prompted a barrage of abuse toward Ms Patten and her staff.

“It’s all sorts of stuff,” she said.

“You have more positions than the Kama Sutra and that just starts it off.

“Another person says ‘oh she will do anything for a bag of chips’.”

Ms Patten pointed to the rape and sexual assault allegations in Canberra and said Victoria had an issue with politicians weaponising the public through social media.

Staff in Ms Patten’s office have also been inundated with abuse, and she has flagged meeting with the parliamentary presiding officers to discuss the issue.

People behaving badly online has become so serious during the pandemic that at least two people have been charged with allegedly making serious threats toward politicians, including Ms Patten and Premier Daniel Andrews, with the cases currently before the courts.

Known vocal online opponents of Ms Patten include Liberal MPs Tim Smith and James Newbury.

Shadow treasurer Louise Staley said she backed the right of Mr Newbury and Mr Smith to make their feelings known.

But she said they should expect “pushback” from party colleagues who didn’t agree with their attacks.

“That is not language I would use. I just wouldn’t use that kind of language,” she said.

“But we have pretty robust freedom of speech beliefs in our party, and people express their views in different ways.

“I would not use that language.”

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