Two South Australian MPs Say Same Man Stalked Them

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Two South Australian MPs, Education Minister Lucy Hood and Ella Shaw, the member for Elizabeth, say they were targeted by the same man in separate incidents. SA Police said on Tuesday that a 44-year-old man from the northern suburbs had been given stalking cautions over incidents at different locations. The two women spoke publicly on Wednesday "to end speculation" about who the police report concerned.

What they described

Shaw said the man first reached her online and messaged her "non-stop" for about six months, starting before she won her seat at this year's state election. At a local community event, she said, she was followed back to her car. "Luckily my family were waiting by my car," she said. She told reporters she felt safe in her job, but the step from online contact to in-person behaviour had been concerning.

Hood, first elected in 2022, said her experiences with him began about three years ago. Police became involved at a community event she was hosting. She said the behaviour was not aggressive, but her children were there. She said she had hoped her case was isolated until she heard from Shaw.

Hood said anybody, young or old, male or female, should feel safe in their workplace and while going about their work.

Both said they feel supported by SA Police and plan to keep appearing in their communities, so that young people considering politics are not put off.

Police briefing

The disclosures come ahead of a security briefing for all MPs, prompted by the alleged attack on Victorian MP Helen Haines. Police said that incident appears to be isolated, and the briefing will cover threat assessments and steps MPs can take to protect themselves.

Police said that so far this year they have investigated 18 incidents involving threats against MPs, harassment or threats against electorate office staff, and vandalism. Last year the figure was 11. A person can be charged with stalking if they breach the conditions of the caution.

Hood said she worries that online discourse is "spilling over the keyboard, into real life".

Source: ABC News