Australian MPs face rising threats, prompting security upgrades

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) held safety briefings for MPs after an alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines. According to the ABC, MPs across the political spectrum said the incident raised concerns about their personal safety and that of their families.

During the briefings, MPs said they had spent thousands of their own money to install security features such as bollards and cameras at their offices. The Guardian reported that these upgrades were made on the advice of the AFP, and that federal ministers receive stronger security assistance while backbenchers feel under‑resourced.

The AFP charged 41 people with offences related to threats against parliamentarians in the past year. According to the AFP, reports of harassing and threatening behaviour increased from 951 in 2024 to 1,067 in 2025, a rise that has led to more frequent arrests, including a man in Perth who was detained after a disturbance at an electorate office.

MPs expressed that while they do not want armed escorts in public, they are alarmed by the lack of baseline security for homes and electorate offices. Some MPs said the briefings offered an opportunity to voice concerns, but others felt they did not receive the answers they sought about security provisions.

The AFP urged MPs to report threats more, to vary their daily routines, and to share event diaries with the police to help track scheduled public events.