She deserves some grace, as this is no doubt a confronting and upsetting time for her. But like Hannah Ferguson, Zali Steggall is in no position to lecture others about turning down the temperature. Even this entire interview is just an unhinged attack on Pauline Hanson, while breathlessly calling for the rhetoric to be dialled down. At one point, she even appears to look down and read from a prepared list of reasons why Hanson is to blame. If so, she went into the interview with a prepared attack on a political opponent, engaging in the very behaviour she claims to be condemning.

ALBOS PHOTO OPS: Peta Credlin outlines the disingenuous media spectacle by Albo and the failing Victorian Premier Ben Carol over the Helen Haines saga. Watch

BREAKING: Albanese has been plotting against Helen Haines for the last five weeks because she criticised a $6 million grant to Albanese’s Marrickville Golf Club as “pork-barrelling by design” Since then, Albanese has been on the attack. The day after her comments his staff gave a dirt sheet on Haines to journalists with a list of requests including: -A list of Haines’ advocacy for projects in Indi of $1.8 billion then raising questions about the value for money and due diligence of those projects ***Asking journalists to check for personal or professional connections, donations, or undeclared benefits that might create conflicts*** framed as potential avenues to examine, not proven allegations… Specific examples given included: -Whether Haines had received undeclared wine or food from local businesses, held business interests, received political donations, or had personal associations with businesses that could benefit from tourism funding? -For an $8 million Benalla Art Gallery redevelopment request, Albanese asked whether Haines had visited, been a member, donated, or had any personal professional connection with employees or the board? -For a local recreation centre upgrade Albanese asked if Haines had played or trained with local clubs, watched games, or received jerseys/equipment? -Made reference to her, and her spouse’s receipt of Mount Buller ski lift passes, alongside later requests for resort infrastructure funding The document supplied no proof of undisclosed wrongdoing but Haines told the Daily Mail she had not seen it previously, and described the approach as “pretty desperate” See how Albanese and Labor operate? See how the media play their part?

Hanson has no respect for public office. If she did, she would resign.