AFP reveals nearly 800 threats against MPs in six months as Labor rushes to boost safety

Helen Haines, an independent federal MP, was targeted in a four-wheel-drive attack last week. The incident brought renewed attention to the risks politicians face while working in public and visiting their communities. It also exposed long-running tensions between MPs and the authorities responsible for their protection.

MPs said security agencies were often too reactive and slow to act on requests. They also wanted better communication about investigations and protection measures. After the attack, MPs of all political backgrounds attended briefings with intelligence agencies, and several requested duress alarms.

Albanese called the attack a turning point and asked for the parliament’s security review to be fast-tracked. He directed Don Farrell, Katy Gallagher and Tony Burke to develop a swift response. The review could lead to wider alarms, safer homes and offices, and more proactive AFP threat assessments.

The Australian Federal Police is responsible for receiving protective security reports involving federal parliamentarians and investigating the threats they describe. Its role includes assessing risks and helping determine what security response may be needed. The AFP also communicates with politicians about investigations and protection concerns.

The article highlights a communication problem. MPs complained that security requests took too long and that they were not always told how investigations were progressing. AFP commissioner Krissy Barrett acknowledged that the force needed to do better at showing MPs that threats were taken seriously.

The AFP is expected to improve training and communication. Barrett will also meet state and territory counterparts about politicians’ safety. The government is considering more proactive threat assessments, while authorities say MPs must follow protocols when reporting incidents or arranging high-risk events.

The AFP received 785 protective security reports about federal parliamentarians during the first six months of the year. The figure shows that threats are not isolated incidents but a substantial and continuing security workload for federal politicians and the agencies responding to them.

Of the reports, 50 per cent were directed at men and 47 per cent at women. Another 3 per cent were generic threats against politicians rather than aimed at a particular gender group. These figures describe the reported distribution, not the severity of each threat.

The numbers have intensified calls for faster action and clearer communication. Barrett said female politicians were three times more likely to report sexualised or gender-based security concerns. The government’s fast-tracked review will consider measures such as duress alarms, improved office and home security, and more proactive threat assessments.

The threats range from aggressive online messages to abuse delivered in person. Politicians have reported vile threats toward themselves and their families, including misogynistic, violent and sexual threats. Their electorate offices have also been damaged, creating risks beyond digital platforms.

The article gives Helen Haines’s four-wheel-drive attack as a physical example. It also says female politicians were three times more likely to report sexualised or gender-based security concerns. Politicians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds received offensive content more frequently.

Threats can follow almost immediately after a policy announcement or public comment. Barrett said people may be targeted because of their accent, appearance or political party, and that even debate can trigger hate. The range of abuse is driving demands for stronger protection, faster responses and better reporting communication.

The review is examining practical ways to make politicians and their staff safer. Options raised by MPs include wider access to duress alarms, improved protection for homes, and quicker security upgrades for electorate offices. These measures could help people respond faster when a threat develops.

The government is also considering more proactive AFP threat assessments. Instead of waiting for concerns to escalate, authorities could identify risks earlier and advise MPs sooner. The review follows complaints that security requests were slow to receive action and that MPs were not clearly informed about investigations.

Albanese has asked the review to be fast-tracked and assigned Don Farrell, Katy Gallagher and Tony Burke to produce a swift response. Barrett also promised improved training and communication. However, authorities remain frustrated when MPs do not follow protocols for high-risk events or incident reports.

Federal MPs are expected to be accessible in their communities and electorate offices. Albanese acknowledged that people need to speak with their representatives, while MPs also want to feel safe meeting voters and working away from parliament. This creates a difficult balance between openness and protection.

The article describes threats arriving online and in person, alongside damage to electorate offices and the attack on Helen Haines. Making homes and offices more secure, or using duress alarms, could reduce risk. Yet the article does not suggest removing politicians from community contact.

The challenge also involves shared responsibility. MPs say agencies respond too slowly and communicate poorly. Authorities say some MPs fail to follow protocols when reporting incidents or arranging high-risk events. The review therefore needs to improve both protective measures and the systems that allow public access to continue more safely.

Threats against elected representatives are a democratic concern because MPs need to work openly, debate policy and remain accessible to their communities. If intimidation makes those activities unsafe, representatives and their staff may struggle to perform their public roles. The article links threats directly to policy announcements, comments and political identities.

The reported abuse includes violent and sexualised threats, family intimidation, damaged offices and a physical attack on Helen Haines. MPs from different parties attended security briefings, showing that the problem reaches across politics. Payman also said independent and crossbench staff were suffering under a deluge of vitriol.

The government’s response could shape whether MPs can stay accessible while remaining safe. Faster threat assessments, stronger offices and homes, duress alarms, and clearer AFP communication are being considered. The article also says MPs must follow security protocols, making protection a responsibility shared with authorities and parliamentarians.