Anne Aly, Australia's small business minister, has denounced parliamentary language calling for her to be "stoned in the square" as deeply offensive and rooted in racism and misogyny. The remarks, made by Gold Coast Liberal National MP Angie Bell during question time on Tuesday, prompted immediate intervention from the speaker and sparked a fierce public response from Aly about the escalating threats she faces.
Bell, the member for Moncrieff who also holds the opposition's arts and sports portfolios, directed her comments at both Aly and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during debate over the Australian Tax Office's decision regarding payment methods. The opposition has mounted sustained criticism of the government's handling of small business taxation policy. Bell stated that
This minister and this prime minister should be absolutely shamed and stoned in the square, language the speaker immediately deemed unparliamentary and forced her to withdraw.
However, Bell later said she withdrew the remark immediately and described it as a "poor choice of words in the heat of the moment", while maintaining that her concerns about the government's treatment of small businesses remained valid.
Why Aly's Response Went Public
Rather than letting the parliamentary withdrawal end the matter, Aly took to Instagram with an emotional video address, revealing the personal toll of such rhetoric. She disclosed that in the preceding seven days alone, she had received 19 death threats across her social media accounts. More troublingly, she noted that previous threats directed at her have employed identical language—specifically, calls for her to be stoned.
I don't usually comment about these sorts of things, but I feel like I have to. This past week alone, I've had 19 death threats on my social media. And in the past I've had death threats that are couched in that exact same language: stone her.
Aly framed the parliamentary comments not merely as a breach of decorum but as an attack on Australian values. She argued that
We are a country that proudly stands against violence against women and against regimes that use brutal methods like stoning against women. This is not just something that we should just turn away from. It is racist. It is misogynistic. And it is something that should never have been said.
The Broader Context of Political Violence
Aly's experience reflects a documented surge in threats against Australian parliamentarians. According to a Parliamentary Library briefing, the Australian Federal Police recorded more than 1,000 threats of political violence in 2023–24, almost double the number recorded two years earlier. The same briefing noted that threats against parliamentarians and candidates reportedly rose 17% during the 2025 federal election.
The Australian Federal Police received 951 referrals or threats against parliamentarians in the 2024-25 financial year, representing an increase of more than 60% over just four years. More than 50 police reports on various alleged criminal offences were filed during the most recent federal election campaign alone.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has previously highlighted that female politicians face particular vulnerability. He told Senate estimates that
the nature of threats and comments directed at female parliamentarians and high office holders is particularly troubling, with a common feature being offensive material centred on derogatory language about their appearance. He added that
Some of this material also contains extremely violent themes, including threats of graphic, sexual violence. These threats, which are being made online or are being sent in the post or over the phone, are sometimes also directed at their children.
Kershaw noted that while politicians are targeted because of their public profiles or policy positions, evidence suggests that in some instances, male offenders specifically target women because of their gender. He stated that
The AFP will not tolerate this criminality and will take swift action.
The Policy Dispute Behind the Remarks
Bell's parliamentary outburst occurred during opposition criticism of the government's approach to Australian Tax Office payment processing. The dispute centres on the ATO's decision to restrict or eliminate credit-card payment options for tax bills. The government intervened the previous week to delay the ATO's credit-card payment ban until July 2027, a move the opposition has contested.
On Tuesday, Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson proposed legislation to require the ATO to reinstate credit-card payments. The opposition argues that millions of Australians employed by small businesses would suffer harm from the payment restrictions, a concern Bell raised before making her controversial remarks.
Opposition Response and Accountability Questions
A spokesperson for Opposition Leader Angus Taylor acknowledged that Bell was correct to withdraw her comment, while simultaneously calling for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to demonstrate similar accountability over earlier remarks the Prime Minister had made regarding melons received from Japan's prime minister.
What Happens Next
The ATO's delayed credit-card payment ban is scheduled to take effect in July 2027, setting a timeline for the continuation of this policy dispute. The incident has intensified scrutiny on parliamentary language and the safety of elected representatives, particularly women in public office.
Key Facts
- Anne Aly received 19 death threats in a single week, with previous threats employing identical language to Bell's parliamentary remarks
- The Australian Federal Police received 951 referrals or threats against parliamentarians in 2024-25, a 60% increase over four years
- Female parliamentarians are disproportionately targeted, often with threats involving graphic sexual violence and attacks on their appearance
- The policy dispute concerns an ATO decision to restrict credit-card payments, delayed until July 2027 following government intervention
- Bell described her remarks as a "poor choice of words in the heat of the moment" and withdrew them after the speaker intervened
