Key facts
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised a swift government response to threats against politicians.
- Duress alarms, or panic buttons, are among options being considered for MPs' offices.
- Senator Fatima Payman reported a biohazard incident involving mail containing human feces at her office.
- Payman stated her office staff are overworked due to a lack of allocated advisers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged a "swift government response" to safety threats faced by politicians and their staff, including the potential provision of duress alarms for electorate offices. The commitment came after Senator Fatima Payman controversially questioned the government's inaction on her office's staffing needs, referencing a past incident involving MP Dr Helen Haines. Albanese acknowledged that MPs have endured a challenging threat environment for too long and that more investment in security is necessary. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke also indicated a review of safety measures at polling booths. Meanwhile, Payman detailed a significant increase in death threats and hate comments since her defection from Labor, recounting an incident where her office received mail containing human feces. She criticized the Prime Minister for the perceived delay in addressing her request for additional staff, leading to overworked employees.