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Labor, Coalition and crossbench MPs afraid at home and work after alleged attack on Helen Haines

Home and office safety a common concern in Australian federal police and Asio safety briefings with politicians following alleged attack on MP Helen Haines

Security agencies will review safety precautions for MPs’ homes and offices after numerous federal politicians told police and Asio in safety briefings that they were worried about widening threats after the alleged attack on Helen Haines.

The Labor government and politicians across the parliament are still considering how they will respond when they return to Canberra next week, with ideas being floated including a new committee on MPs’ safety, greater resources for police, and motions of condolence for Haines, who lost both her legs after Monday’s incident. Renewed calls from the crossbench for reforms to question time and the tone of debate in parliament are unlikely to be taken up by the major parties.

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© Photograph: James Ross/EPA

© Photograph: James Ross/EPA

© Photograph: James Ross/EPA

AFP warns Australia of ‘tsunami of youth crime’ and radicalisation accelerated by AI

21 October 2026 at 06:18

Children as young as 12 among dozens subject to federal police operations since 2020, parliamentary inquiry hears

Australia is facing a “tsunami” of youth crime as artificial intelligence accelerates the pace and scale of radicalisation, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.

The Australian federal police acting deputy commissioner Sandra Booth told the hearing on Wednesday that, while radicalisation had traditionally taken years or months, that process could now happen within days.

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© Photograph: Oleg Elkov/Getty Images/iStockphoto

© Photograph: Oleg Elkov/Getty Images/iStockphoto

© Photograph: Oleg Elkov/Getty Images/iStockphoto

No bail for alleged Helen Haines attacker as police chief warns of Australia’s ‘febrile’ political environment

AFP commissioner says MPs are generally concerned about growing volume of abuse and intimidation

The head of the Australian federal police has condemned a “febrile” political environment that has seen one person charged every week over the alleged threatening of MPs, as Victoria announces new steps to protect politicians.

But the AFP and Victoria police insist they had no intelligence to suggest 43-year-old Brendan Nugent would go on to allegedly drive a Toyota LandCruiser into the independent MP Helen Haines in a targeted attack.

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© Photograph: PR IMAGE

© Photograph: PR IMAGE

© Photograph: PR IMAGE

‘Deeply appalled’: politicians condemn alleged attack after independent MP Helen Haines critically injured

Anthony Albanese says his thoughts are with Indi MP after arrest of driver in Wangaratta

The independent MP Helen Haines has been critically injured in an alleged attack involving a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in regional Victoria.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, confirmed on Monday night that a man was in custody after the alleged attack on Haines that was now being investigated by the Australian federal police (AFP), Asio and the joint counter-terror taskforce.

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© Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

© Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

© Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

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