Grace Tame has criticised what she called Australia’s habit of turning traumatic events into vehicles for “propaganda and conspiracy” following the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines.

Haines, 65, was allegedly struck several times deliberately by a Toyota LandCruiser outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, north-east Victoria, on Monday afternoon.

The MP has lost both legs in the incident and remains in a critical but stable condition.

Politicians at both federal and state level, including One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and Victorian Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell, have since spoken publicly about threats directed at elected representatives.

On Wednesday, however, Tame, 31, turned her attention to the public reaction, accusing commentators of exploiting the alleged attack to promote their own political objectives.

“A woman, Helen Haines, has lost her leg because a man allegedly rammed her with his car. Twice,” Tame wrote in a social media post, published before Haines’ husband confirmed that the MP’s second leg had also been amputated.

“Australia, you’ve done it again. You’ve seized an individual’s traumatic experience as an opportunity to further your political agendas.”

“That should give us all pause, and turn our hearts to her. She is a human, not a vessel for propaganda and conspiracy. She is a public official, not public property.”

Tame urged Australians to respond to victims with compassion instead of immediately turning traumatic incidents into ideological battles.

“It is possible to extend sympathy without centring oneself or one’s personal beliefs,” she said.

“It is possible to demand accountability and justice without indulging rumours.”

The former Australian of the Year also condemned what she described as an increasing tendency among commentators and media figures to interpret major events primarily through politics.

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“Such is the narcissistic distortion of our social conscience that commentators and journalists simply cannot seem to resist projecting their own ideological bias onto absolutely everything and everyone,” she wrote.

“If we are living in waiting for crises to weaponise, or worse monetise, we aren’t incentivised to prevent them. We are feeding off and into them.”

“This is as disturbing as the violence itself.”

Tame’s remarks come amid a wider national discussion about the safety of politicians and the growing abuse faced by public figures.

Georgie Purcell, who knows Haines personally, said the alleged attack on the Indi MP highlighted the risks faced by elected representatives, particularly women.

‘One comment on my post about Helen said they wished it had happened to me,’ she told AAP on Tuesday.

The Victorian Animal Justice MP argued security arrangements for politicians should be reviewed before Victorians head to the polls in next month’s state election. 

She added that Haines had previously sent her a handwritten card before the birth of her daughter, describing the 65-year-old as a caring and widely respected figure. 

Pauline Hanson also revealed she had recently been provided with increased protection due to threats while speaking to News24 earlier this week.

‘I’ve only just recently had more full-time protection because of the threats that have come in,’ Hanson said.

The One Nation leader said she has spent much of her political career travelling Australia without extensive protection but had noticed a significant escalation in threats.

‘I had it in 97-98 for 18 months, 24/7, because of the threats against me because I dared question the establishment,’ Hanson said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday revealed the number of people before the courts due to threats against him was in the ‘double digits’.

An Australian nurse is preparing to make New York her permanent home, drawn by the city’s stronger career prospects, higher nursing salaries and the lifestyle she has long imagined.

Liv Halliwell, 26, who previously lived in London, is planning to relocate to the United States after falling in love with New York during a three-day visit.

Although many young Australians spend a few years overseas before eventually returning, Liv believes she may remain in the energetic US city for the rest of her life.

The chance to earn substantially more as a registered nurse is a major factor behind her plans. But Liv is also excited by the possibility that her future partner could be waiting for her in the United States.

‘I truly believe my future soulmate lives there. I do not enjoy dating Australians and I don’t enjoy the culture of our life,’ she said.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Liv said New York stood out for a number of practical reasons, especially when compared with London.

‘The salary is a big one, it’s a genuine step up,’ she said.

‘I also just wanted a different lifestyle, the skyscraper city that never sleeps energy is such a contrast to London. New York also puts me in a much better position to travel around the Americas, which I’m excited about.’

‘I have never felt more like I needed to live somewhere’

Liv’s plans took shape after a brief trip to New York, where she spent only three days discovering the city.

She has travelled widely across Europe, but said nowhere else had sparked such an immediate urge to relocate.

New York’s nightlife, crowded streets, restaurants and nonstop energy made a particularly strong impression on her, reinforcing the city’s reputation as one of the world’s most recognisable destinations.

‘I just fell in love. I love city life. I love how bustling it is – the bars, the vibes, the people. I can’t even look at people living there because I get really jealous.’

However, unlike Australians who can enter some countries on working holiday visas and find casual employment, Liv must complete a more demanding process before she can work as a nurse in the US.

‘To become a registered nurse in New York, I need to have my Australian nursing qualifications and registration verified by the relevant US licensing authorities.

‘I then need to meet New York’s specific requirements and pass the NCLEX-RN, the US nursing registration exam.

‘Once my credentials have been assessed and I’ve met all the requirements, I can obtain my New York nursing licence.’

For Liv, the demanding licensing process is justified by the earning potential available to nurses in the United States.

‘In terms of nursing, the nurses in America make so much more than we do. Almost double our salary. Even just normal ward nursing because it’s a private system.’

While actual earnings vary considerably depending on location, experience, employer and working conditions, Liv believes New York offers a substantial financial step up from her opportunities in Australia.

Why she prefers dating American men

Beyond her career, Liv believes moving overseas could improve her romantic prospects.

She admitted she hasn’t enjoyed dating Australian men and is looking for a relationship with more romance and traditional gestures.

‘I want something more. I want more chivalry. I want romance, which I have experienced,’ she said.

‘I have dated an American, completely different type of partner. He would open the car door for me, and I’d be shocked, because no Australian man is doing that.

‘This one might also be a controversial take but I also prefer that a lot of Americans tend to have a more provider mindset.

‘I’m going to be a nurse, I don’t expect myself to never work. I want to work. But I prefer dating someone who has that kind of a mindset. I don’t know any Aussies who are like that.’

Her comments reflect a broader frustration expressed by some Australian singles, particularly women who feel the country’s relaxed dating culture can sometimes translate into a lack of effort or romance.

Liv also believes New York would suit her long-term priorities because she doesn’t feel particularly drawn to marriage or motherhood.

‘I feel like New York is probably the perfect place because I feel like a lot of people aren’t doing that there,’ she said.

‘Australia has a really big issue with tall poppy syndrome’

Liv’s frustration with Australian culture extends beyond dating.

She believes the country’s tendency to cut down people who express big ambitions can make it difficult to feel encouraged when pursuing unconventional goals.

‘We have a really big issue with tall poppy syndrome. I didn’t notice how bad it is until I moved to London.’

Tall poppy syndrome is a term commonly used in Australia (and New Zealand) to describe a social phenomenon where people who achieve notable success, stand out, or show ambition are criticised, resented, or ‘cut down’ by others. 

She recalled becoming aware of the difference while dating an American man, who questioned why she was so quick to dismiss ambitious ideas.

‘Why are you just shutting down these ideas I have?’ he’d ask her.

‘What do you mean? I’m just being realistic,’ she’d respond. 

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Liv explained that she had grown accustomed to a more cautious approach, where enthusiasm was sometimes met with scepticism.

‘I just wasn’t really used to how much Americans hype each other up. You could have an idea and they’re like, “Yeah, you’re so smart, do that”. So it took a long time to get that trait out of my brain.’

And while she will miss her loved ones, she doesn’t feel a strong desire to return permanently.

‘I see myself living there for probably the rest of my life,’ she said.

Is the grass really greener overseas?

Liv is among a growing number of young Australians questioning whether the lifestyle they want is easier to achieve somewhere else.

For some, the decision is driven by better salaries and career opportunities. Others are searching for affordable housing, a different social culture or a slower pace of life.

Perth marketing manager Jade Lennard, 29, was earning more than $250,000 combined with her Welsh partner before the couple decided to leave Australia with their baby daughter.

Despite their relatively high household income, Jade said the cost of housing, domestic travel and raising a family had begun to affect their quality of life.

‘We didn’t want that daunting feeling of living week-to-week, and we started to feel that pressure even as a family earning in excess of $250,000,’ Jade previously told the Daily Mail.

After welcoming their daughter in August 2025, the couple began reconsidering their priorities.

Their families were scattered across Australia and the UK, and even visiting Jade’s mother and sister on the east coast could cost more than $1,000 in return flights for one person.

Earlier this year, they relocated to just outside Cardiff in Wales, where they hoped to enjoy more family support and work towards buying a home.

Sydney mum Stephanie Hunt made a similar decision after realising the Australian lifestyle she had enjoyed in her twenties was no longer suited to raising young children.

She and her husband, who was born in Ireland and raised in the US, moved their family to a small rural Irish town.

‘Ultimately, we felt Ireland aligned most closely with our values when it comes to raising young children,’ Stephanie previously told the Daily Mail.

She said the biggest difference was the sense of community and support available to families.

‘There’s a real ‘village’ mindset in Ireland, with a strong cultural focus on supporting families and children,’ she explained.

Stephanie described her previous life in Sydney as a ‘rat race’, where maintaining their lifestyle required long working hours and expensive housing.

‘I worked around the clock in my 20s to enjoy the Sydney lifestyle. I paid an arm and a leg to live in a two-bedroom apartment in a good suburb. But everything changed once we started a family.’

‘Since moving to Ireland, we’re less stressed, more present, and not reliant on long day care. It feels incredibly personal and, honestly, quite idyllic,’ she said.

The New Yorker who wants to move to Australia

Interestingly, while Liv is convinced New York offers a better future, one American traveller recently expressed almost the opposite sentiment after visiting Sydney.

Maya Beatriz, who spent three weeks travelling around Australia, admitted she struggled to readjust to life in New York after returning home.

‘I’ve been back in New York for 48 hours and I do not want to be here. There’s no part of my body that wants to be here. I would rather be in Australia right now and that hurts my soul so bad,’ she said.

Maya said she had felt happier, healthier and more socially confident during her time in Sydney – describing it as her ‘best self’.

One of the biggest differences, she said, was how easy it felt to meet new people.

‘I’ve never had that many conversations with strangers and been so open and out there. I was thriving, and now I’m back,’ she said.

She described Australians as some of the most welcoming people she had encountered and said she frequently found herself making friends without trying.

‘Even if my intention is to go somewhere for solo time, I’m suddenly having a conversation and adopted into a friend group and hanging out with a bunch of different people. That has never happened to me in New York.’

She acknowledged that Sydney’s high cost of living could make it difficult for some visitors, but said she was already planning another trip.

Her experience offers an interesting contrast to Liv’s ambitions.

The Australian nurse sees New York as a place where she can earn more, pursue her career and find a social and romantic culture better suited to her personality.

Meanwhile, the New Yorker found herself drawn to the relaxed lifestyle, friendliness and sense of freedom she experienced in Australia.

Labour is facing calls to resist pressure from environmental campaigners and approve drilling at Rosebank, described as Britain’s largest undeveloped oil field.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh was expected to turn down plans for the North Sea project, despite approving production at the Jackdaw gas field only hours earlier.

Union leaders and Labour MPs have urged ministers to back further oil extraction. Their position was reinforced by Donald Trump, who called on the UK to go “full blast” in developing its North Sea resources.

However, Ms Fahnbulleh indicated that Rosebank was likely to be rejected, arguing that the two developments had to be assessed on different grounds.

Climate campaigners oppose Rosebank because they estimate its eventual carbon dioxide emissions would be roughly seven times higher than those linked to the Jackdaw project.

Ed Miliband, the Foreign Secretary and former energy secretary, is understood to be firmly against the proposed drilling. Ms Fahnbulleh said: “One is a gas field that serves the domestic market, while the other is an oil field that is primarily intended for export.

“It is right that we assess each application on its own merits, and it is absolutely critical that any decision is compatible with our climate obligations, carbon budgets and the ultimate destination of the energy transition.”

The Energy Secretary has already faced criticism from Labour’s Left wing after granting approval for Jackdaw, which could start delivering gas to British homes and businesses within weeks.

Once fully operational, Jackdaw could account for 6 per cent of North Sea gas production and deliver an estimated £2.9 billion boost to the economy while helping safeguard jobs.

Ms Fahnbulleh acknowledged that the project would not reduce household energy bills. Instead, she said, it would strengthen energy security amid the war in the Middle East.

Unions welcomed the decision to approve Jackdaw. Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB, said the Government deserved “real credit” for backing the project.

He nevertheless called on ministers to go further by approving Rosebank, a move expected to trigger a much more contentious political and environmental debate.

Rosebank is significantly larger, with estimated reserves of between 300 million and 500 million barrels of oil. The field could eventually represent about 8 per cent of UK oil production.

Campaigners say the emissions generated by Rosebank’s oil would be seven times greater than those associated with gas from Jackdaw.

Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra has previously told Andy Burnham that he supports Rosebank drilling, arguing that the project could provide a substantial boost to Scotland’s economy.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, also welcomed the Jackdaw approval and has previously pressed the Government to support Rosebank.

Scottish Labour MP Graeme Downie said on X that he was “glad” Jackdaw had been approved, adding that the UK would continue to need oil and gas for decades.

Neil McCulloch, chief executive of Adura, the company part-owned by Shell that is behind both projects, said he believed that Rosebank would also be approved.

‘Jackdaw represents a significant prize in its own right: £2.1billion of investment and enough gas to heat the equivalent of around 1.4million UK homes at peak production. Our attention now turns to Rosebank. The case for approval is equally strong.’

Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for more exploration of the North Sea, said the decision on Jackdaw was ‘great news’. 

The US President posted on Truth Social: ‘The U.K. has started drilling in the North Sea, one of the greatest and most prosperous areas of OIL in the World.

‘They should go FULL BLAST!!! This will make the U.K. very wealthy again. TAKE DOWN THE COSTLY AND RIDICULOUS WINDMILLS!’

The Tories called for Rosebank to be approved, with shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie saying the move would boost national security.

Writing in the Daily Mail he said: ‘At a time of such geopolitical uncertainty, with over 80 per cent of UK households relying on gas heating, it is in the national interest to maximise our own North Sea resources and reduce our reliance on expensive, dirtier imports.’ 

While Labour’s 2024 manifesto committed to issuing no new oil and gas licences for the North Sea, Jackdaw and Rosebank had already received approval. The decisions by the Conservatives were overturned by a legal challenge and fresh assessments completed.

Ms Fahnbulleh has received considerable flak from some Labour MPs over Jackdaw. 

Hard-Left MP Richard Burgon said it was an ‘absolutely terrible decision’, while Alex Sobel said it would give ‘mixed messages’ on climate change. Chris Hinchcliff co-ordinated a letter from Left-wing MPs urging the Government not to approve Rosebank.

Environmental campaigners protested outside the Energy Department and the Greens accused Labour of ‘climate vandalism’. They urged the Prime Minister not to give permission for Rosebank which is the next decision the Energy Secretary must make.

Mr Burnham said: ‘We’re committed to moving towards renewable energy. But even on our ambitious climate path, we’ll still require oil and gas as part of our energy needs for decades to come. 

That’s why we’re taking a pragmatic approach to the North Sea.’ Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour should have taken the decision to approve Jackdaw earlier instead of ‘faffing about’.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said it was ‘shameful’ that the Energy Secretary was not in Parliament to make a statement on the decision.

Asked whether the Energy Secretary’s comments indicated that she was unlikely to approve Rosebank, a spokesman said each project would be ‘assessed on its own merits’.