WA's young female politicians will not give up despite rise in abuse

In short:

Young women say they remain motivated to join politics, despite increased abuse and harassment of female MPs.

A 2024 study found that fear of online harassment and misogyny was one of the biggest barriers stopping young women from entering politics.

Former prime minster Julia Gillard says more action is needed to protect women in politics.

WA Youth Parliamentarian Charlotte Rawlinson is not one to give up easily.

"Obviously I'm scared, I have reason to be scared, but that's the effect that these people who are doing this want," she said.

In the of wake the attack on independent MP Helen Haines and on the office of WA MP Hannah Beazley, young politically motivated women are considering their options.

Ms Rawlinson said she was determined to do her bit, despite the fear.

"We know it's not a safe game for us to be in, but we're going to be here anyway because we have other people we want to protect and uplift,"she said.

Ms Rawlinson said as a young, queer and disabled woman, some people do not want her involved in politics.

"I'm not going to let them have that satisfaction," she said.

She said some of her fellow youth parliamentarians, all under the age of 18, have experienced racist and sexist abuse online and in person.

"One of my fellow members, she had awful things said to her, for not only the things she said but for things she didn't say — just for existing as a Muslim," she said.

She is not alone.

For 29-year-old Busselton Councillor Mikalya Love, being involved in politics — even at a local level — has meant new strategies to manage her safety.

"I get my staff or another councillor to walk me to my car at night after council," she said.

"There have been a few times where we've had to call police at council meetings."

Ms Love said things were different only five years ago when she first joined the city of Busselton council, 250 kilometres south of Perth.

"I do think that it is starting to increase because the first few years I was on council I never really gave [it] a thought. It wasn't too much of a concern," she said.

Ms Love is part of a growing cohort of young, politically engaged women evaluating the risks of entering politics in the current political climate.

"The commentary surrounding women in particular within politics, it can be very disgusting," she said.

"And I know that lots of people are like, 'Why do you put yourself through that?'"

She said she had experienced increased "rage content" on social media, including on community pages.

"It's definitely a bit of a deterrent, especially for the females within politics, given [the] current time," she said.

Across the political spectrum

The increase in online abuse has been felt by young women from across the political spectrum.

Hannah Hutton is the WA Young Liberals chair as well as the federal Young Liberals vice-president.

She said she was having fewer and fewer respectful conversations.

"The increasing political divisiveness as a whole is really, really scary," she said.

"The way that we counter that is with more conversations and rhetoric and respectful dialogue between all different sides."

Ms Hutton said as a young woman involved in the Liberal Party, assumptions have been made about her beliefs.

"I've definitely received a lot of name calling and things like that for being someone who's centre right of politics," she said.

Growing threats against female MPs

A 2024 Australian National University study found that fear of online harassment and misogyny is the second biggest barrier for young women and gender diverse people from entering politics.

Earlier this week, federal MP Tanya Plibersek told ABC's 7.30 program that abuse against parliamentarians was occurring at an "industrial scale".

"There's always been abuse, but I am shocked by the tenor of it,"she said.

Former prime minister Julia Gillard, the current chair of the Global Institute for Women's Leadership at the Australian National University, said more action is needed to protect women in politics.

"Evidence shows that the volume of abuse and threats directed at women MPs is growing," she said.

"In my own discussions with current women MPs, I have been told about an increased number of threats, as well as ugly sexist abuse being screamed at them in public places."

She said the nation was in a "period of reflection" after the tragedy involving Independent MP Helen Haines.

"At this time, we should be thinking deeply about how to address what is driving this level of abuse, and what can be done to ensure all MPs can represent their communities confident that they’re safe," she said.