Female members of parliament are putting their political differences aside to build a network following the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines and increasing abuse towards women in office.
Women from across the political spectrum in the House of Representatives and Senate are being invited to join a new Network of Women in Parliament to build connections and provide a safe space to support one another.
Minister for Women Katy Gallagher, shadow minister for women Melissa McIntosh MP and Independent Rebekha Sharkie announced the initiative in Canberra on Thursday.
"We may have political differences, probably more times than not, but we're not going to have political differences when it comes to the safety of our fellow women colleagues in parliament," Ms McIntosh said.
"Differences are going to really be squashed when it comes to encouraging other women across our nation into politics and showing them that this parliament here in Canberra is very much a place for women as well."
Senator Gallagher said women parliamentarians all had a similar story and were experiencing more sexualised and personal abuse than their male colleagues.
"All members of parliament are being inundated with abuse and threats, and often threats of physical harm and violence," she told reporters.
"But women, I think, get more of it, and the nature of that abuse is more sexualised.
"Often women can feel quite isolated, as a parliamentarian. Creating this network is about just coming together, sharing that experience, a bit of solidarity and support when it's needed, and building trust over time."
Senator Gallagher said she was one of 57 MPs using an app to remove problematic or threatening comments from their social media, which was being offered to female parliamentarians as a free trial.
The app had hidden or removed 21,000 comments from her pages since she had been using it, she said.
The announcement comes 10 days after Ms Haines was struck repeatedly by a four-wheel drive outside her Wangaratta office, resulting in the loss of both her legs.
She remained in a serious but stable condition at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne on Thursday morning.
Since the attack, several other incidents of abuse towards females in office have occurred, including a man who allegedly wielded a weapon and threatened staff at Labor MP Hannah Beazley's electorate office in Western Australia.
On Wednesday, police in South Australia cautioned a 44-year-old man with stalking over separate incidents involving two female SA MPs.
Ms Sharkie, who sits in front of Ms Haines in parliament and considers her a dear friend, said she would be happy about the announcement.
"This is about bringing us together. This is about light in a time of darkness, and this is about the future," she said.
The network will be officially launched at Parliament House on November 24.
