Radio Transcript, Broadcast: 21 October 2026, 7:41 AM - 7:51 AM  

Sandra Moon: It's not often that you hear from so many people from across such a wide range of voices agreeing on one thing, but that's what's happening, as everyone who knows or has worked with the Federal independent member for Indi, Helen Haines, agreeing that she's a genuine person who really threw her heart and soul into representing the people of Indi in federal parliament. And it's not just the people in Indi, but people everywhere. Her Excellency, the Honourable Governor-General Sam Mostyn is with you now. Sam, good morning.

Governor-General: Good morning, Sandra.

Sandra Moon: Can you tell us what sort of support you're hearing and seeing?

Governor-General: Well, I think you're experiencing it very much there around Indi. There is an overwhelming outpouring of love and care for Helen. I know Helen really well. In fact, we were together just a couple of weeks ago in Euroa saying thank you to first responders at the recovery hub there, and we'd actually started talking about our sadness in the decline of public discourse and lack of civility. So, I think everyone is dealing with a shock. I know you and your team there would often and often do chat to Helen, and I think what we're seeing now is an outpouring for Helen. For me, she is the embodiment of what we want our public officials and our elected representatives to be. She's deeply human. I heard someone this morning describe her as listening with her whole body, that she, whoever she's with, she's fully invested. She knows how to argue and debate with great respect for others who have a different opinion. So, she's never shy about the actual argument, but it's the way she does it and she's generous and the kind of person that I think it shocks us that the person who we regard as one of the best at really being an Australian who can represent a community, and do it so well, is the subject of this violent attack. So, I'm seeing everyone – there is not a single person who hasn't commented on her character, on their desire to see her recover, their concern for her family and her community, her volunteers and I'm sure for your station, knowing how well you know her. You know, everyone is trying to process this and try to work out where do we put this grief and this response and try to make this something that I think Helen would say, let's. Let's be better.

Sandra Moon: Yeah. And I mean, for you, you know, you're a public figure, certainly there's been discussion around security and whether or not that's going to be tightened, you know, moving forward for people like yourself in public office.

Governor-General: Well, the security question is one that of course, was going to rise. And particularly though, for those local members, it really goes right across our elected representatives sphere, I think, about councillors and mayors in the local government and state. So, it's not just federal representatives. This is about anyone who puts their hand up to represent their community and often puts themselves in traffic with the community. And so I think our concern is really for everyone who does that. How many of those people have begun to feel less safe? In my case, I'm lucky on two counts. I have a wonderful protective team and the office of Governor-General has always had that, together with the Prime Minister and other senior officials. But the level of credible threat against me really does not have any value compared to what is happening with the level of threat rising against elected representatives. So, I feel very well protected. I also feel very safe out in the Australian community. And I travel widely and spend a lot of time with people in town halls, community, out in the street. But I think what this sends is a chill across the community as to whether people should do that. And of course, we don't want people not to be part of the communities. We also want people to want to be local representatives and step up into these very important roles because we don't want to see a decline in people playing that role. So, there will be a debate and discussion about this. There'll be much said about it by the authorities. And I think the way in which Helen was attacked, I think has really concerned so many and that this will be a discussion that will be continuing in the days ahead.

Sandra Moon: Yeah, most definitely. And of course, there's still so much processing to do, as you mentioned, there's still that. Well, we are hearing, there's still just such disbelief. Even, though, you know, a few days has passed, it's still so hard to understand how something like this could happen.

Governor-General: It's always hard, I think, when the victim is someone so special who does represent the very best. And so I did want to send my best wishes out to your community and the people who know Helen so well, so many of your listeners would be her volunteers, the people who have worked alongside her, and before that, Cathy McGowan, in the style of politics, of being deep community representation. So, I think where you are broadcasting to and across to ABC Shepparton, there would be a lot of people feeling wrecked about this and not knowing where to put their emotions. My advice as Governor-General would be the same as every Governor-General before me is, first of all, do seek help. I know the Red Cross has set up in your community. Do go and talk. I heard your Red Cross representative this morning when you were chatting to her. You know, talking about this matters, the words at the moment matter. So, we're dealing with a terrible incident. So, talking, reaching out to each other. And I've suggested that people who want to show some support for Helen and her family. I know there are vigils and there's been a church service. I've been trying to think about what would Helen be saying to us if this was happening to somebody else? And I think she'd be telling us to reach out and take care of everybody who is shaken and still dealing with this. Then remind ourselves about the strength of our democracy and what's good about it. Also remember the good hearts of most Australians. Let's not lose sight of that. I'm sure that's what Helen has always talked about. And then think about how we can all manage ourselves a bit better. If we're tempted to drop that text that has a bit of an expletive in it or respond to an Instagram post with anger, just step back and say again, what would Helen do in this situation? She would not be disrespectful. She will always step in and actually be kind and gentle and open. And if we all take as a mark of respect for Helen and for her recovery. So, she's back showing us how she does this, that's what we can all do across our community. It's actually what I see when I go into communities, when we're in the physical world rather than the online world, particularly in your part of the world, Sandra. I just see communities doing the hard, patient work of building connection and belonging. It's when we drift into this online world or we let the behaviour of others suggest that we shouldn't be kind and courteous to one another. I'd like to see Australians really exercise the muscle of decency, because I think that's who we are at our core.

Sandra Moon: It's alright to disagree. I mean, that's what it comes down to, isn't it? It's just the way that we do it.

Governor-General: So, this is what I say. I've been around the country now for the last two and a half years. I started in my office by saying I would put care, kindness and respect at the centre of everything I do. I came in, in a post Covid world where I thought there was a desire for kindness, but we weren't using that word. Wherever I travel, people yearn. They say to me, can we please talk about being kind to one another? The other thing they always say is, can we get back to being able to disagree well. And they mean it. I actually think something we've got to spend some time on. We don't have to make everyone agree with each other. Our democracy has been based on argument, robust and passionate argument. It's always been healthy. It's how you build great democracies. But we're all, I think, members of the community saying we've got to have decency in how we do that. Wrestle the idea, not the person. Listen to each other. And I think for those that attempt online to throw those anonymous slurs and terrible comments, always remember that the people we're attacking from afar or anonymously, some of whom we'd never met, they’re someone's daughter or son, they're someone's neighbour, they're someone's mate. There's someone that Helen represents in Indi, and we've got to stop and pause and think about when we disagree. We can do that very well. And I think that's what Helen epitomises. And I know we are all praying and hoping that her recovery means, despite the catastrophic loss of her leg, that she'll be returning and be teaching us again. What does good representation look like?

Sandra Moon: Thank you so much for your time and your thoughts. We appreciate it.

Governor-General: Sandra, Take good care of yourselves, all your listeners. We are better than this incident. I know that. I see the very best of that around the country. And I'll leave you with one thought. Sir William Dean, who I often quote back in 2000, said that ‘we must have disagreement and criticism as a true mark of our democracy’. But he said at that time, this is 25 years ago, that an unjustifiable degree of distrust or denigration will damage our democratic institutions or discourage people from serving in them. We're in that world still and it's our job to support our wonderful democracy, the envy of the world. Be kind to each other, be gentle, be decent and be more like Helen, I think, is the best thing we can do today to send her a really strong message of support.

Sandra Moon: Thank you. That is Her Excellency, the Honourable Governor-General Sam Mostyn, with some really, really pertinent thoughts there on ABC Global Murray.  

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