Parliamentarians remain cautious amid growing threats and abuses related to the war in Gaza

Attacks on offices and death threats are prompting MPs to make more contact with federal police as community cohesion is strained by the war in Gaza.

Police, including plainclothes officers, accompany MPs at events to ensure their safety.

The Australian Federal Police told lawmakers during the last session of Parliament in early June of the need to remain vigilant in the public.

Several MPs told AAP they were stepping up their cooperation with the federal police, informing them where they were attending community events and about upcoming meetings.

Violent protesters mainly destroyed the offices of Labor MPs, including Josh Burns, who is Jewish.

He was in regular contact with federal police, and Victoria Police are investigating the attack.

“They are certainly working with MPs to provide them with the security support they need, they take the safety of MPs extremely seriously,” he told AAP.

“Conflict is not a license to lose civility.”

One of the Labor Party senators claims that it is not only about MPs from the metropolis, where many protests are taking place.

The senator said emails containing threats to families and sexual violence were widespread, and most of the hate mail came from Gaza.

By the end of May, the AFP had received 725 reports of “harassment, nuisance, offensive and threatening messages” against MPs this financial year, compared with 279 in 2020/21, Commissioner Reece Kershaw said.

As independent MP Sophie Scamps reported, the number of hateful letters increased and she revealed that she had received death threats.

She tried not to take the violence personally, saying people were concerned about the war.

“What it comes down to is that people feel very strongly about this and want to be heard, and obviously lives are at stake,” she said.

“AFP is contacting me more and more often… they’re just taking some precautions, for example they want to know where I am when I’m in public places.

“It was something that a lot of us have received and… it’s disturbing at times, but I think it’s one of those things that unfortunately happens when you’re a public figure,” she said.

Labor senator and outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights Fatima Payman was also targeted after she called on the government to take a stronger stance on Israel.

Independent MP Zoe Daniel said she had also received threats and there was a “heightened sense of awareness around office safety, personal safety and security”.

“It’s really concerning, but we haven’t really changed anything about what we’re doing,” she said.

“We’re just more conscious of personal safety in the office, and Josh Burns’ office is pretty close to my office, we’re MP neighbors, so it was pretty close to home.”

The war in Gaza was particularly worrying for residents of her community, Warringah MP Zali Steggall said, also pointing to increased warnings and interactions between federal police and MPs.

“This conflict has certainly led to increased awareness of security issues, such as the installation of more cameras, increased vigilance and the introduction of requirements from the AFP,” she said, pointing to the need to keep police informed of movements.

Her office remains on alert and events can often be expected to be disrupted due to protests, but she said Labour MPs were the overwhelming target of the issue.

“My community has been very respectful, but overall there is a growing level of concern for members of the public as people become increasingly frustrated and worried about feeling powerless in the face of the crisis,” she said.

“It prompts people to take more radical actions.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also became emotional as he revealed his concerns on Friday over the alleged threat to his family.

“This person should be brought to justice, extremism has no place in Australia,” he said.