A Gold Coast councillor has raised concerns about the safety of local representatives, revealing she has been subjected to death threats herself.
The news follows the attack on independent Federal MP Helen Haines in Victoria.
Ms Haines remains in a critical condition after being struck by a four-wheel-drive outside her Wangaratta electorate office on Monday.
Doctors have been forced to amputate a leg and are fighting to save the other.
43-year-old Brendan Nugent has been charged over the attack and is due to front court on Wednesday.
Southport Councillor Brooke Patterson has warned that local representatives have also been subject to increasing threats in recent years.
In a post on social media, Cr Patterson revealed that two people have been convicted in separate cases of making deaths threats against her, her family and her staff since she was first elected in 2020.
Cr Patterson has been attending a local government conference in Cairns, where she lamented the fact security for local councillors needed to be on the agenda.
“It’s a sad state of affairs that a session on ‘safety and security for local government elected members’…was deemed an essential part of the agenda…but that is what happened today,” Cr Patterson wrote.
“Many councillors from across the State shared they are currently contending with stalking, abuse, and threats of rape and death.”
The issue was being discussed as news of the attack on Ms Haines filtered through.
“Attacks on elected representatives/politicians, are an attack on democracy,” Cr Patterson said.
“As a society we can and must do better.”
Council is now set to review security procedures and the safety of local representatives.
