Western Australian police are investigating an alleged threatening incident at the electorate office of state MP Hannah Beazley in Victoria Park, an inner-city suburb of Perth. The incident occurred on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, and left the politician and her staff shaken.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed that the man accused in the incident was already known to police. The accused, 56-year-old John Lawrence Smart, appeared before Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday, 22 October.

Smart has been charged with being armed in a way that could cause fear, making a threat and possessing cannabis. Police allege that he attended the electorate office while carrying an improvised martial arts weapon and threatened people there. A magistrate refused his bail, and he is scheduled to appear in court again later in October.

Commissioner Blanch said police were not aware of previous reports from Beazley or her staff about concerns involving Smart, nor of any documented escalation in his behaviour towards them. He urged elected representatives to remain accessible to their communities while taking appropriate precautions to protect themselves and their staff.

Beazley said the incident had been confronting and that she and her staff were still shaken by what had happened. She also raised concerns about the challenges of monitoring threatening messages sent through social media and email, particularly when online abuse becomes frequent or difficult to assess.

The incident has prompted renewed discussion about the security of electorate offices and the risks faced by politicians who regularly meet members of the public. These offices are designed to help constituents access government services and raise local concerns, which means staff often interact with people they do not know in advance.

Western Australian Greens MP Sophie McNeill has called for stronger action to address threats against politicians. She said threatening communications had become a serious concern for elected representatives and argued that security arrangements needed review.

The incident occurred only days after federal independent MP Helen Haines was critically injured in an alleged vehicle attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria. The two cases are separate investigations, but their timing has intensified national concern about threats and violence directed at public officials.

Western Australian state MPs were scheduled to receive a police briefing on the current threat environment and practical measures for managing security risks. Authorities are encouraging politicians and their staff to report concerning behaviour and threats so that police can assess them.

The allegations against Smart have not yet been proven in court. Police investigations and court proceedings will determine the circumstances of the incident and the outcome of the charges.