Josh Burns MP revealed the relentless online harassment he faces soared after vandals trashed his office in Canberra. During the hearings, he spoke about a staggering flood of abusive messages targeting his heritage and personal life. Some of these messages were notably vicious, with users making barbaric threats to set ablaze buildings or attack him directly.
Lawmakers also pointed to distressing reports of similar threats sent to other representatives . A prominent female MP, whose partner is of Jewish background , endured relentless antisemitic abuse. Now, figures are calling for urgent measures to clamp down on digital harassment, while urging platforms to monitor content that fuels such behaviour.