Attack on Haines shakes parliament

Federal MPs have described deep fears for their safety after an attack on independent MP Helen Haines outside her Wangaratta electorate office in regional Victoria.

Security measures described as tokenistic

While ministers and high-profile individuals receive regular protection and threat assessments, other MPs have described infrequent or tokenistic threat assessments. Some said they had never been offered risk assessments for their home security.

MPs express fear and unease

One MP said: I feel unsettled, that's how I feel. Unsettled and grieving. Another said: As a woman in politics, I feel pretty nervous at the moment.

“I feel unsettled, that's how I feel. Unsettled and grieving.”

Threats to MPs are widespread

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said security agencies identified more than one thousand threats to federal politicians in the most recent financial year. Every federal MP the ABC spoke to described receiving death threats.

Police union calls for review

Australian Federal Police Association president Alex Caruana said the number of MPs expressing safety fears was increasing. He said staffing levels would have to be revisited in the wake of the attack against Helen Haines.

Families also feeling unsafe

Caruana said: The number of politicians and the number of MPs that have rung me to say, Hey, I feel safe but my family don't feel safe, has increased significantly.

“The number of politicians and the number of MPs that have rung me to say, 'Hey, I feel safe but my family don't feel safe,' … has increased significantly.”

AFP to take over home security checks

The Australian Federal Police Association has called for privately contracted security assessments of MP homes to be brought under the AFP following the attack on Helen Haines.