July 16, 2024
The government needs to review resourcing of the Australian Federal Police to ensure it can meet the threats facing politicians, their staff and families, opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson says.
Following the attempt on former US president Donald Trump's life on Sunday and amid increased attacks and acts of vandalism on offices of Australian MPs, Senator Paterson said AFP resourcing was an area of concern.
''There are practical things we need to do from a security standpoint to make sure the Australian Federal Police who provide protective security to members of parliament, their staff and families and other high office holders have the resources they need to do their job,'' he said.
''I think we need to always reflect on that and make sure at this moment that that's the case.'' Coalition MPs attending an antisemitism rally in Melbourne were told by Australian Federal Police they could not send officers, despite the event being assessed as higher risk, one source said.
The Never Again is Now Rally on May 19 coincided with the Victorian state Labor conference, which was forced into lockdown the day prior when pro-Palestine demonstrators broke through security.
The Department of Home Affairs is undertaking a review of security resourcing and arrangements for MP protection.
In a speech at Old Parliament House yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Claire O'Neil said recent attacks on MPs' offices were the ''measures of autocrats, despots and tyrants''.
''Denying access to government services, terrorising politicians and their staff, painting symbols of terrorism in public spaces, smashing windows, setting buildings alight, ''Ms O'Neil said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the assassination attempt on Trump made him think about the risk to his own life.
''Of course it does. And that's just a fact,'' he said.
''I had met Jo Cox, the British MP who was murdered in the UK. And that, of course, was a tragedy.
''It's a great thing in Australia, by and large, politicians, including the prime minister, can wander about events and can walk around safely ... but, of course, there is a heightened concern out there.'' Senator Paterson said Australia had to avoid complacency about threats.
''While it is true we have very different gun safety regulations ... they also have those strong laws in the United Kingdom, and two members of parliament in the UK in the last decade have been murdered,'' he said.
''There are some troubling signs that there are trends towards using violent means in Australia to try and intimidate parliamentarians and their staff, and we cannot allow that to take hold here.'' Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten said there was no doubt the level of rancour had increased in recent years.
''The temperature is definitely up and headed in the wrong direction, ''Mr Shorten told the ABC. ''It is OK to disagree, OK to write the member and tell them you think that member is dim, whatever. But the level of abuse, I feel, is intense as it's been 17 years I've served.'' Greens leader Adam Bandt said yesterday his party unequivocally condemned the attack on Mr Trump.
''While election campaigns can get passionate, there is never a justification for violence,'' MrBandt said.
''In a democratic society people can speak with their vote, which I hope people in the United States do in November and reject a second Trump presidency.'' The temperature is definitely up and headed in the wrong direction.
