Police have charged nearly 40 people in as many weeks with threatening politicians, including two more over the weekend — one man in Western Australia and another in Queensland.
The steady stream of charges reflects the increasingly hostile environment in which politics is now conducted.
Politicians fear the growing threat is making it harder to stay connected with their constituents, and many point the finger at the polarising nature of social media.
Labor MP Josh Burns says the overwhelming torrent of abuse he and his staff must now monitor and moderate online has been the biggest change during his eight years in parliament.
