Are political threats putting democracy at risk?

Rising threats and political violence are putting Australia’s democratic traditions under pressure. A UNSW expert explains what’s at stake and how we can protect them. 

It’s rare to see political threats turn violent in Australia. One of the most notable cases was the assassination of NSW MP John Newman outside his home in 1994.

This is a stark contrast to countries such as the UK and US, where several political leaders have been killed or targeted in violent attacks.

But threats against Australian politicians are increasing. According to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, security agencies identified more than 1000 threats against federal politicians in the most recent financial year.

Similarly, a 2025 survey found 85% of federal politicians and staff had dealt with constituents behaving in a violent, threatening or volatile manner.

“Trends of this kind not only contribute to political violence of the kind we have recently witnessed. They mean that all MPs feel unsafe doing their job: representing us in our democracy,” warns Rosalind Dixon, Anthony Mason Professor and Scientia Professor of Law at UNSW Sydney and Co-Director of the UNSW Resilient Democracy Lab.   

“No one feels safe when their lives or physical safety is threatened, let alone repeatedly, often by anonymous online sources.”

As a former Director of the Pathways to Politics Program for Women NSW, Prof. Dixon says women and those with culturally diverse backgrounds in politics face even greater threats.  

A recent survey by Women for Election shows that nearly 90% women of holding elected offices or are running for office across all levels of government have experienced online abuse or intimidation linked to their political participation. And while threats against male MPs are rising at troubling rates, they are still well below that level.

“Broader gender and racial dynamics in society mean that women and culturally diverse MPs are more likely to be subject to these threats, and to experience them as psychologically harmful,” Prof. Dixon says.

The lucky country’s democratic advantage

Australian democracy is known for the accessibility of its elected representatives. It’s common to see local MPs visiting local markets, holding mobile offices or meeting with constituents in their electorate. These opportunities have always allowed community members to raise concerns directly with the people who represent them.

“Democracy in Australia is a system of representative democracy – not direct democracy as in ancient Greece or Athens,” Prof. Dixon says.

“This means we elect people to represent us in Canberra, and in our state parliaments and local councils. To work well, this system also requires the right people stepping up to represent us – people who have integrity, purpose and a passion for positive change, and who visibly represent the community they are elected by.”

But political violence puts this accessibility at risk. Prof. Dixon says threats and intimidation discourage elected representatives from engaging with their communities. They also make people reluctant to have difficult conversations in parliament, workplaces, universities and other public spaces.  

“This undermines the capacity of these institutions to advance freedom, prosperity and the acquisition of knowledge. And it increases social and political polarisation and distrust,” Prof. Dixon says.

Political threats can also drive elected representatives out of politics altogether. Former Health Minister Greg Hunt, for instance, received multiple death threats over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic before leaving politics.

“Political violence can be enough to mean that we lose the chance to have diverse representatives, either because it causes severe injury or even death, or that talented Australians are no longer willing to remain in public life or seek it in the first place,” Prof. Dixon says.

The threat of violence may also discourage others from entering politics. 

“It is a leading reason distinguished Australians say they are unlikely to run or seek the chance to represent their community.  I have seen this firsthand as the former director of the NSW Pathways to Politics for Women program.”

Protecting Australia’s democracy

Echoing repeated remarks by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to “turn down the temperature” on political debate, Prof. Dixon believes these comments remind us that democracy depends on resolving disagreements through vigorous but peaceful and respectful debate, both in person and online.

“Those concerned to protect our democracy must therefore treat such threats as a call for urgent and widespread change – in prevention policies and services, and how we talk to each other politically,” she says.

She believes greater investment in policing, counterterrorism and mental health services have important roles in protecting politicians and others working in public-facing roles. But so too does legislative reform.

“The proposed new digital duty of care, and even broader reforms aimed at combatting online violence are some examples,” she says. “It puts the onus on social media companies to ensure safety, and backs that up with meaningful civil penalties.

“But part of it means practising a better form of real-world and online debate and politics. It is time to stop the hate we spread online.”