# Australia must ‘re-win the argument for democratic politics’ after Haines incident, Campbell says

https://mins.news/en/item/118565

- The Guardian, 2026-10-28 06:24 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/28/australia-democratic-politics-argument-helen-haines-incident-alastair-campbell-ntwnfb

> Alastair Campbell says political rhetoric in the UK quickly returned to polarisation after attacks on MPs. He urges Australian politicians to renew the case for democratic politics and says debate should better reflect independent MP Helen Haines’s approach. Haines was allegedly attacked outside her electorate office in northern Victoria and lost both legs; a 43-year-old man has been charged.