Brisbane’s lord mayor has revealed a spate of disturbing threats prompted his city council to beef up security, as elected officials voiced fears of violence following the attack on federal MP Helen Haines.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said all elected representatives were facing an increase in aggression, and while debate was healthy, he called for broader political abuse and toxic discourse to be cooled.
“Hatred and aggression then can turn into violence very easily, as we’ve seen, and that is not a good place for our society to be heading,” he said.
“The United States has a long history of political violence ... There’s been attempted assassinations or actual assassinations. We do not want to become like the United States.”
Schrinner said security at City Hall had been increased as a result of members of his staff being threatened, and employees had received de-escalation training.
“There’s been multiple people who have threatened to shoot me as well, and one of them had a gun licence,” he said.
Deputy mayor Fiona Cunningham’s Coorparoo ward office window was shattered two days before the 2024 election, allegedly by ball bearings fired from a paint gun.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett told media on Wednesday authorities were battling a record wave of threats against MPs following a toxic mix of personal grievances, online conspiracies, “mental health vulnerabilities” and extremist ideologies.
Meanwhile, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has refused to be drawn on the possibility of reforms to outlaw violent speech directed at elected officials.
Facing journalists at the Queensland Media Club on Wednesday, Crisafulli was asked whether he would consider strengthening laws to curtail threats to politicians.
He was specifically asked about the 2026 Australian Conservative Political Action Conference on October 11, where CPAC chair Warren Mundine joked about murdering Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen.
“I’d like to think I’m someone who is always prepared to stand up for the things I believe in,” Crisafulli said.
“I never make it personal. I just don’t. I really dislike when families get dragged into politics. I really dislike that. I really dislike when it becomes about personal features. I’ve never done it. Don’t want to do it.
“I think there’s a lot of people on both sides who share those values, and I think we’re better as a society for it.”
Crisafulli said the time for debates about what led to the attack on Haines would come, but for now the focus should be on her recovery and supporting her and her loved ones.
“She’s fighting for her life. She’s got a husband and staff who work for her, and the community who know her deeply,” he said.
“But right now, you can only imagine the trauma that they’re all going through because life’s never going to be the same.”
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