Man charged after allegedly making threats at Hannah Beazley’s electorate office while armed with nunchucks
A 56-year-old man has been charged after allegedly threatening staff and wielding nunchucks at the electorate office of Western Australian minister Hannah Beazley.
The Perth incident came days after the federal independent MP Helen Haines was hospitalized with severe injuries following an alleged attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta in Victoria on Monday. Electoral staff at Beazley's Victoria Park office called police after a man caused a disturbance on Wednesday afternoon.
Arrest and charges
Police said they received reports the man was making verbal threats while in possession of an "improvised martial arts weapon" described as "nunchucks". They arrested the 56-year-old man nearby and took him into custody. On Thursday he was charged with being armed in a way that may cause fear, making unlawful threats and cannabis possession. Nobody was injured in the incident.
The man was refused bail to appear at Perth magistrates court on Thursday. Beazley was not in the office at the time but told reporters on Wednesday evening her staff were "rattled" by the "confronting situation".
He was [allegedly] being very threatening. He did want access to me, I believe, but we don't know his motivations at all.
Political response
Beazley said there had been two staff members in the office at the time. The man allegedly attempted to lean through the security screen but her staff were a safe distance away, she said. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said Hannah Beazley was a friend "because I'm a good friend of her dad", the former Labor defence minister Kim Beazley.
"This is far too prevalent," Albanese told Perth radio on Thursday. "It's not who we are as Australians. We can have our discussions and debates and settle those issues at the ballot box."
Gendered threats
The governor general, Sam Mostyn, speaking generally on Thursday, discussed the gendered dynamics of threats and abuse directed at women in high-profile positions. "Like any woman who has stepped up into any position across any part of our society, there is a unique and pernicious form of attack that comes our way," Mostyn told ABC TV.
Haines recovery
A community vigil was held for Haines in Wodonga on Wednesday evening after it was revealed the MP had lost both her legs following Monday's alleged attack. Haines's predecessor as the federal member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, said on the sidelines of the event the community was grappling with "mixed emotions".
McGowan had spent time with Haines's staff and she told Guardian Australia they were "all crying together because of the emotion that's been building up". Haines's chief of staff, Kaz Rourke, said on Thursday that the team was "devastated" by Monday's alleged attack.
Helen is adored by her team. She is a remarkable leader, a truly wonderful boss and someone we all care about deeply.
Rourke said Haines's staff were planning to reopen the electorate office "later next week".
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