Federal parliamentarians have voiced growing concerns about the responsiveness and adequacy of security agencies in addressing threats against them, following a recent attack on MP Helen Haines. The issue was discussed during a briefing on Wednesday involving officials from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the Department of Home Affairs.

Members from both the Labor and Coalition parties expressed increased unease about their personal safety, with some Coalition MPs reporting that requests for security assistance ahead of public events were either ignored or not given sufficient attention. In response, officials pledged to review and improve the processes involved in handling such requests.

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett highlighted that a national security investigation team has been actively charging approximately one individual each week for threatening parliamentarians and other office holders. Despite this, translating charges into custodial sentences has proven challenging. In the previous financial year, the AFP received 1,067 reports of harassing, offensive, or threatening behaviour targeting political figures—a 92 percent increase since 2020.

Parliamentarians were also advised to avoid publicly advertising their movements when possible. At least one MP was privately counseled to cancel attendance at a scheduled event due to security concerns, sparking questions about how elected officials can effectively carry out their duties without openly engaging with their communities.

Further concerns centered on the financial burden of enhancing personal security, with some backbench MPs facing out-of-pocket expenses amounting to tens of thousands of dollars for home security upgrades. During the briefing, a Labor MP inquired whether the AFP had sufficient funding to protect parliamentarians. While agency officials acknowledged that increased resources would always be welcome, they stopped short of expressing explicit dissatisfaction with current funding levels.

Separately, a Coalition MP indicated that security anxieties and rising social tensions have prompted internal discussions about whether continuing in parliament is a viable option for some members.

The security briefings come as official data underscores the escalating risks faced by elected officials and reinforce calls for enhanced protective measures and resource allocations to safeguard Australia's parliamentary members.