Greens senator confronts online troll, says she is regularly targeted by ‘abusive, misogynistic and violent’ harassment

Greens deputy leader Steph Hodgins-May has taken the unusual step of confronting one of her online abusers, revealing she regularly faces “misogynistic and violent” comments while doing her job.

The Victorian senator told nine.com.au that she is targeted by cruel comments, often including violent threats, almost every time she shares a post or video online.

The stream of online vitriol has taken its toll, particularly following the tragic alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines, with the incident garnering bipartisan support for the protection and safety of women in parliament.

Hodgins-May decided to make an example out of one commenter after waking to a “deeply offensive” Instagram remark on Thursday.

She filmed herself contacting a man she was able to trace online after his comment labelled her a “stupid bitch”.

During the call, Hodgins-May said the man denied it was “violent language” and refused to apologise.

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“Would you call your daughter a stupid bitch or your female colleagues a stupid bitch?” she asked, reminding him it was the “aftermath of a violent [alleged] against a female politician”.

Hodgins-May told the man his behaviour was “appalling”.

“Spoiler alert: he stood by it. Said he’d do it again, apparently even to his wife and kids,” she said.

In a statement shared to this masthead, Hodgins-May said this treatment was the “unfortunate reality of being a woman in politics”.

She said the climate of violence against MPs emboldened her to publicly call out this latest incident.

“Almost every time we post something online, we’re met with abusive, misogynistic and violent comments,” Hodgins-May said.

“This isn’t isolated. It’s part of broader culture that has normalised misogyny and harassment against women, at a time when male violence against us is at epidemic levels.

“I have a platform to call out this behaviour, and I intend to use it. The more we challenge it, the harder it becomes to normalise.”

Police have warned there has been a rising scale of violence and abuse levelled against elected leaders in Australia, particularly female politicians.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett said this week that she hears reports of threats almost daily, with “pages and pages” of reports landing on her desk.

In the majority of cases, Barrett said reports of threats escalate after a policy announcement is made, or when a message is shared to social media.

“The abuse that is targeted at female parliamentarians is far more focused on the individual,” Barrett told ABC’s Insiders.

“It is very often sexual violence threats... absolutely abhorrent threats targeted at our female parliament.”

It comes as a group of female politicians from all sides of politics penned a joint statement on Thursday to announce the launch of a shared support group named Network of Women in Parliament (NOW).

Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, Shadow Minister for Women Melissa McIntosh, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie formed the group in honour of Haines and called on female politicians to join and find solace in hearing about shared experiences of “challenges”.

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“The devastating attack on our parliamentary colleague Helen Haines has further highlighted the importance of coming together in support, solidarity and friendship across political divides,” the statement read.

“Helen has always demonstrated the importance of kindness, compassion and genuine connection across political divides.

“In many ways, she embodies the very spirit of what NOW hopes to achieve.”