Albanese claims Helen Haines dirt sheet was a list showing her ‘integrity’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a document circulated by his office about independent MP Helen Haines was a list of her electorate funding requests, intended to demonstrate her advocacy and integrity, rather than a personal attack. The document was distributed to journalists after Haines criticised a $6 million grant to Marrickville Golf Club, prompting questions about the government’s response to her criticism.

The document alleged no wrongdoing, but questioned her comments on the grant and suggested lines of inquiry about funding in her electorate of Indi. Haines is in a critical condition after an alleged attack outside her Wangaratta office on Monday, in which she lost both legs. Albanese also said double-digit numbers of people were facing court over alleged threats against him, and backed requiring social media companies to remove threatening content.