A resident lays flowers outside federal MP Helen Haines’ office in Wangaratta, where she was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle. (EPA Images pic) MELBOURNE: Australia's federal police chief warned on Wednesday of growing extremism online fuelling political polarisation after an attack on lawmaker Helen Haines, who remains in a critical condition in a Melbourne hospital.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett said there is "a growing sort of level of extremist views, and particularly in the online space".
"The current criminal threat environment is febrile, and when it comes to federal parliamentarians, the AFP continues to record the growing volume of online abuse, threatening rhetoric, and intimidation," she added.
