Anthony Albanese has said this week ‘must be a turning point’ for civil discourse. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has promised a quick government response to threats against politicians and their staff. He has also raised the possibility of giving parliamentary offices emergency alarms that staff can use to call for help.
The promise came after growing concern about threats and violence against elected officials, following an alleged attack last week on independent MP Helen Haines.
Politicians from both major political sides have called for stronger security at their offices. Many have also spoken publicly about the abuse they face, including death threats and threats of sexual violence, both online and in person.
During a meeting with Labor MPs on Monday, Albanese said the country needed to change how it dealt with threats against politicians. He admitted that the government needed to spend more money on protecting MPs and their employees.
He said politicians had faced dangerous situations for too long and that more needed to be done.
Albanese told colleagues that they had spent years working to protect other people in their workplaces. He said he was determined to make sure they and their staff were also safe.
Emergency alarms and stronger office security considered
The prime minister did not announce a final plan. However, he promised a swift response and said the government was considering several possible measures.
One proposal is to give MPs and their staff panic buttons or emergency alarms. These devices could alert police or other authorities when someone faces an immediate threat.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke also told Labor MPs that the government was looking at ways to improve security at polling stations during elections.
Government sources said officials were considering a range of changes. These could include stronger protection for electorate offices, better communication with federal police and improved security at politicians’ homes.
Possible measures for private homes include security cameras and better outdoor lighting.
Labor is also speeding up a review of safety in Commonwealth workplaces. The review is expected to provide recommendations on security and protecting workers soon.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor discussed personal safety with members of his Coalition partyroom. He said his side was continuing talks with the government but did not announce any specific proposals.
Fatima Payman criticises the government over staffing
The security debate has also drawn attention to complaints from Senator Fatima Payman, who left the Labor Party in 2024 and now sits as an independent crossbench senator.
Payman has criticised Albanese and her former colleagues over the number of staff provided to her office. She says her team is overworked and needs more support.
During a Senate estimates hearing on Monday, Payman asked government minister Don Farrell whether the lack of staff was linked to a personal disagreement between her and the prime minister.
The prime minister has the power to decide how many personal advisers some MPs and senators receive. These advisers are separate from the staff who help politicians run their electorate offices.
According to an internal document presented during the hearing, Payman had no personal advisers. By comparison, 16 other crossbench MPs and senators shared 30 advisers.
Payman said her employees were becoming exhausted and appealed to Farrell and Albanese to take their concerns seriously.
She also questioned whether the government would act only after a serious incident occurred at her office.
Farrell and other Labor senators strongly rejected the suggestion that the government was waiting for something bad to happen. Payman, however, refused to withdraw her remarks until her request for more staff was addressed.
Payman reports threats and disturbing incidents
Payman told the Guardian Australia that she had experienced a major rise in death threats and hateful messages since leaving Labor in 2024.
She also described a disturbing incident from the previous year, when her office manager opened a piece of mail containing human faeces.
A specialist team wearing protective suits had to attend the office because of the health risk.
Payman said the incident had caused serious distress for her employees. She argued that no worker should have to deal with such abuse or dangerous material while doing their job.
The incident has added to concerns about the safety and wellbeing of parliamentary staff.
Pressure grows for government action
The alleged attack on Helen Haines and the reports of threats against other politicians have increased pressure on the government to act.
Albanese has described the current situation as unacceptable and said this week should mark a turning point in how threats are handled.
The government is now considering changes that could improve protection for MPs, their staff, offices and homes.
However, important details remain undecided, including which security measures will be introduced and how quickly they will be provided.
For Payman, the issue also includes ensuring that her office has enough staff to manage its workload and respond to safety concerns.
The government is expected to outline its next steps in the coming days.
