An incident at Western Australian state minister Hannah Beazley’s Perth office led to charges against a 56-year-old man, The Independent reported, amid concern after an alleged attack critically injured federal lawmaker Helen Haines.
The Independent reported police alleged the man entered the office with nunchucks and made verbal threats. The outlet said he faced charges of “being armed in a way that may cause fear” and “threatening to perform an unlawful act,” and spent the night in police custody.
Beazley said she was at state parliament when the man came to the office looking for her. She said two staff members stayed behind a security screen and were “rattled,” adding, “We don’t know his motives at all.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the timing “just heartbreaking.” The Independent reported no allegation linking the Perth incident with Monday’s alleged vehicle strike on federal lawmaker Helen Haines in Victoria. A health department statement said Thursday that Haines remained critically ill after surgery in Melbourne that resulted in the amputation of both legs.
The Independent framed the incidents against two features of Australian politics: elected officials are easy for the public to approach, while political violence has usually been uncommon. The outlet also reported concerns that toxic social media debate may increase risks for women in public office.
