PM pledges fast security upgrades for politicians after office attack

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised a quick fix to safety concerns for lawmakers this week, following an alleged attack on an office last week. He told his partyroom that the government must act now to protect members of parliament and their staff.

The pledge comes after Senator Fatima Payman criticized the lack of support her office receives. She asked if the prime minister was waiting for an incident like the one involving Dr. Helen Haines to happen to her before taking action.

Albanese spoke at the first Labor partyroom meeting since the attack on the Indi MP. He said this week must be a turning point for how threats are handled. He acknowledged that more investment is needed in security and safety for politicians.

The prime minister noted that MPs have had to deal with a threat environment for too long. He stated that the government needs to do more and that more can and should be done. He emphasized his determination to ensure safety for staff in the workplace.

While Albanese did not give specific details, he mentioned that duress alarms or panic buttons are among the options under consideration. He said several MPs have raised the idea of receiving these devices to alert authorities during safety incidents.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke also told the meeting that the government is looking at safety at polling booths during election times. Government sources said a full proposal is likely to be revealed in the coming days.

MPs have raised a wide range of concerns, including better security for electoral offices and improved communication with federal police. Some have also requested resources for security at their private homes, such as CCTV and lighting.

An ongoing review into commonwealth workplaces will be sped up. Labor plans to deliver recommendations specifically about safety and security soon. The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, told his MPs that conversations with the government are ongoing but did not raise specific proposals.

Payman, who left Labor in 2024, lashed out at the prime minister on Monday night. She said her request for additional staff was not being answered. An internal document showed she has zero advisers while 16 other crossbench MPs and senators share 30 advisers.

In a Senate estimates hearing, Payman questioned Minister Don Farrell about the staff allocation. She asked if the shortfall was due to a personal gripe with the prime minister. She claimed her staff are severely overworked and burning out.

Payman asked if the prime minister was waiting for something to happen to her office to take their request seriously. Farrell and other Labor senators rejected the insinuation, but Payman refused to withdraw the comments until her staffing request was dealt with.

Payman told the outlet last week that death threats and hate comments have increased since she defected. Her office manager found human faeces in the mail last year, which required a biohazard team to respond. She described the trauma inflicted on her staff as horrible.