“It’s not just the volume of abuse,” he said. “Quite often it’s not the volume, it’s what’s actually being said.”
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He said the threat of violence against him, his staff and family, as well as the volume of calls, had escalated “quite dramatically” during the pandemic.
He expected the abuse, which appeared to be highly organised, to increase in coming weeks as the newly tabled pandemic legislation, which he collaborated on with the Andrews government, is debated in Parliament.
“People may want to voice displeasure; that does not give people the right to be threatening or abusive.”
His parliamentary office was receiving a phone call about every 1 minute and 40 seconds, although Mr Meddick’s electorate office is currently closed.
Masked vandals targeted the office of Ms Patten in Melbourne’s inner north last week. Three people, two wearing Anonymous-style masks also known as a Guy Fawkes mask, were seen on security cameras outside her Sydney Road office in Brunswick about 1am on Thursday.
Ms Patten said glue stuck on her front windows could not be removed, and the glass would have to be replaced at a cost to taxpayers.
“My office and I regularly receive horrific abuse,” Ms Patten said in a statement at the time. “Abuse – verbal, written, vandalism – is not acceptable.”
The upper house crossbench MP temporarily quit social media earlier this month after sustained abuse, particularly about mandated vaccinations for particular workers. This week, she released a video of abusive messages being read to her.
Last week, federal Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews met Australian Border Force Commissioner Reece Kershaw after half a dozen Coalition members raised concerns about the safety of their colleagues and staff members in their weekly party room meeting.
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Speaking in the Federal Parliament after the killing of British Conservative MP Sir David Amess, Ms Andrews urged MPs to continue working with their communities undeterred despite concerns for their safety.
Sir David, 69, was meeting constituents inside a church in Essex on October 15 when a knife-wielding man walked in and repeatedly stabbed him.
A 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene and British counter-terrorism police formally declared the stabbing an act of terrorism.
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MPs face sharp rise in threats and vandalism during pandemic
Source: Philippines Alive
