South Australian Labor MP Jayne Stinson has reported that threatening, sexist and abusive messages scrawled on balloons were left outside her Plympton electorate office, with at least one balloon containing a powder that covered a staff member. SA Police is investigating the incident.
Staff arriving at Ms Stinson's Marion Road office initially thought the balloons were a birthday gift, but the MP told reporters the situation 'turned dark pretty quickly' once the messages were read. The notes included threats against her safety and life, including a threat to burn her, alongside sexist slurs and the phrase 'stop the chop', a slogan associated with a campaign opposed to government projects in the state's parklands.
The incident comes at a time of considerable public discussion about the safety of elected officials, prompted by the alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta.
According to Ms Stinson, a staff member popped a balloon and was covered in powder, leading to a call to police. SA Police said no injuries or damage were reported but a threatening message was present. The force reminded the community that intimidating or menacing behaviour 'may constitute a criminal offence', and noted the current political environment has seen 'an increase in threats directed towards elected representatives'.
Ms Stinson, the member for Badcoe in Adelaide's inner south-west, said she understood police were searching for two people believed to have left the balloons. She expressed distress for her staff, stressing that while peaceful protest and voicing concerns are welcome, threatening conduct is unacceptable. She noted she had faced threats and attempted physical assaults during her two terms in office.
Adelaide Park Lands Association president Mat Monti described the targeting of the MP's office as 'completely unacceptable', saying people could disagree with her position or decision, but this sort of intimidation had no place in politics.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The incident highlights the personal security risks faced by elected representatives at all levels in Australia, adding to recent debate following the alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines.
- The use of an unknown powder and the targeting of staff broaden the concern beyond the MP alone, raising workplace safety issues for electorate offices.
- The link to the 'stop the chop' campaign demonstrates how local policy disputes can escalate into direct personal threats against politicians.
Background
Jayne Stinson has been the Labor member for the South Australian seat of Badcoe since 2018, serving two terms in office. The 'stop the chop' slogan refers to a public campaign opposing the removal of trees in Adelaide's parklands for government infrastructure projects. The incident follows the alleged assault on federal independent MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta, Victoria, which sparked widespread discussion about the safety of Australian politicians.
Key Perspectives
- Jayne Stinson (Labor MP for Badcoe): Says the messages crossed a line from legitimate political exchange into intimidation, and that her staff should not have to deal with such risks in the workplace.
- SA Police: Are investigating the incident as a potential criminal offence, warning that intimidating or menacing behaviour is unacceptable and noting a rise in threats against elected officials.
- Mat Monti (Adelaide Park Lands Association): Said the targeting of the MP's office was 'completely unacceptable', drawing a clear distinction between lawful campaigning and threatening behaviour.
What to Watch
- The police investigation into the two suspects believed to be responsible for leaving the balloons, and whether charges are filed.
- Potential changes to security measures and protocols for electorate officers and their staff in South Australia.
- The reaction of local campaign groups to the use of threatening tactics under their slogan, and the impact on the broader political climate in the state.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedBalloons bearing threats and containing powder were left outside Jayne Stinson’s office.Adelaide articles feed: “A South Australian government MP says threatening, sexist and abusive messages scrawled on balloons — at least one of which contained powder — were left outside her office”
- SupportedA staff member was covered in powder after popping a balloon.Adelaide articles feed: “My staffer thought he was cleaning up and popped one of the balloons and got covered in powder”
- Partly supportedPolice were searching for two suspects believed to have left the balloons.Adelaide articles feed: “Ms Stinson said she understood police were searching for two people believed to have left the balloons at her office.”
- Not in the sourcesThe police described an increase in threats directed towards “elected officials”.Adelaide articles feed: “SA Police has confirmed it is investigating the matter, noting it had come amid “an increase in threats directed towards elected representatives, candidates and others involved in public life””
- SupportedStinson reported that threatening, sexist and abusive messages were scrawled on balloons left outside her Plympton electorate office.Adelaide articles feed: “A South Australian government MP says threatening, sexist and abusive messages scrawled on balloons — at least one of which contained powder — were left outside her office”
- SupportedStaff initially thought the balloons were a birthday gift.Adelaide articles feed: “Labor MP Jayne Stinson said staff arriving at her electorate office on Marion Road at Plympton this morning initially thought someone must have sent her balloons for her birthday.”
- SupportedStinson said the situation “turned dark pretty quickly”.Adelaide articles feed: “But she said that upon closer inspection the matter “turned dark pretty quickly””
- SupportedThe messages included a threat to burn Stinson, sexist names and threats to her safety and life.Adelaide articles feed: ““There were messages threatening to burn me, there were messages calling me swear words — sexist names,” Ms Stinson said.”
- Supported“Stop the chop” was a slogan associated with a campaign opposing government projects in the state’s parklands.Adelaide articles feed: “a slogan associated with a public campaign opposed to government projects in the state's parklands.”
- SupportedThe discussion about elected officials’ safety was prompted by the alleged attack on federal MP Helen Haines in Wangaratta.Adelaide articles feed: “The Plympton incident comes at a time of considerable public discussion about the safety of elected officials, prompted by alleged Wangaratta attack on federal MP Helen Haines.”
- SupportedSA Police reported no injuries or property damage and said a threatening message was present.Adelaide articles feed: “SA Police said while there were no injuries reported and no damage to property, “there was a threatening message left on one of the balloons, which police are investigating”.”
- SupportedMat Monti called the targeting of Stinson’s office “completely unacceptable”.Adelaide articles feed: “In a statement, Adelaide Park Lands Association president Mat Monti — who has been campaigning to stop trees being cut down in the parklands — said the targeting of Ms Stinson's office was “completely unacceptable”.”