Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was evacuated from The Lodge on Tuesday evening following a security threat. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Anthony Albanese was evacuated from The Lodge shortly after 6 pm on Tuesday (24 February), following a security incident believed to be a bomb threat.
But the Prime Minister was safely returned about three hours later after a sweep of his official residence found nothing suspicious.
Australian Federal Police have confirmed in a statement that they responded to an alleged security incident.
“A thorough search of a protection establishment was undertaken and nothing suspicious was located,” the statement said.
“There is no current threat to the community or public safety.”
Mr Albanese was taken to “another location” after being removed from The Lodge and returned at about 9 pm.
The PM’s office has only commented publicly to say they thank and trust the AFP.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor posted on social media to condemn the threat.
“Pleased to hear that the Prime Minister is safe and well after being evacuated from his residence in Canberra,” Mr Taylor wrote on X.
“Threats against any parliamentarian are utterly abhorrent, especially in a country built on expressing our differences through debate.”
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, talking to the ABC Wednesday morning, described the incident as “very troubling” and “extraordinary”.
“Very troubling circumstances. From our point of view, and the Prime Minister has been saying for months, we need to take the temperature down,” she said.
“We’ve seen in other countries that there is political violence and threats against politicians, but here in Australia, we’re lucky to be able to get around and mix with the community and operate safely.
“But this is just another reminder that there are threats out there, and where there are threats, the police will take them seriously … I can say that certainly, in my time in politics, I haven’t experienced some of the turbulence and some of the push against politicians at the moment.
“I think certainly the online world is alive and flourishing … It takes a lot of time for the AFP to work through what are threats that they are concerned about and those that they are just keeping a watching eye on and that’s unfortunate.
“It would be great if people could disagree without issuing a death threat or threatening someone’s life at work, that’s for sure.”
Also talking to the ABC on Wednesday morning, Greens Senator Nick McKim said he was glad the Prime Minister, his family and staff were all safe.
“I think what we have to be careful about is that politics is absolutely rife for disagreement – and we should be passionate about our positions, we should argue our position strongly and forcefully – but there is a line that we don’t want to cross,” he said.
“It’s about finding that balance between representing the people that put us into parliament, speaking on the issues that we care about with passion and conviction, but also trying to hold a basic level of respect across the political spectrum.”
Senator McKim said politicians in Australia were generally “pretty safe”.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
