Opinion

Political and international editor October 24, 2026 — 5:00am

October 24, 2026 — 5:00am

You’ve heard many tributes to Helen Haines . You’re about to hear many more. Don’t be fooled. Australia is on the brink of missing the moment. If so, nothing significant will change. We’d not be returning to business as usual. We’d be descending into violence as foretold.

Some of the specifics of the attack on her may allow an easy excuse for inaction. The alleged assailant apparently had a history of mental illness. You can already hear the argument for a fatalistic complacency: “Ah, so he’s some random madman, it’s not politically motivated after all.“

Court sketch of Brendan Nugent at Wangaratta Magistrates Court. Anita Lester

Even if that turns out to be the case, it misses the point entirely. Several points.

The first is that, if mental illness is a factor, that’s a part of Australia’s problem, not an excuse for ignoring it.

Second.…