You can see it in the drawn faces of the politicians lining up to speak about Helen Haines this week – Canberra has been shaken to its core.

ASIO and the Australian Federal Police have been liaising with parliamentarians – some of whom say they no longer feel safe after the alleged attack, which left the beloved Victorian independent MP fighting for her life.

But some of the same politicians offering their condolences have been responsible for the increasingly ugly, even violent, rhetoric on the floor of parliament – their words contributing to the very environment that’s made them feel unsafe.

Today, independent MP Allegra Spender on her own experience, the hypocrisy in parliament, and why she’s calling for change – regardless of what the motivations in Haines’ case are found to be.

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Guest: Independent MP Allegra Spender