Man charged after allegedly making threats at Hannah Beazley’s electorate office while armed with nunchucks | Australian politics | The Guardian  (man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb.html)   (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/manifest.json)  (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon.svg) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-512.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-360.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-240.png) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/icons/homescreen/apple-touch-icon-120.png) (../../../../../static.guim.co.uk/images/favicon-32x32.ico) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/) (https://i.guim.co.uk) (https://j.ophan.co.uk) (https://ophan.theguardian.com) (https://sourcepoint.theguardian.com) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/) (https://i.guim.co.uk) (https://j.ophan.co.uk) (https://ophan.theguardian.com) (https://api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk) (https://hits-secure.theguardian.com) (https://interactive.guim.co.uk) (https://static.theguardian.com) (https://support.theguardian.com) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-headline/noalts-not-hinted/GHGuardianHeadline-Bold.woff2) (https://assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/fonts/guardian-textegyptian/noalts-not-hinted/GuardianTextEgyptian-Regular.woff2)                                  (../../../../../assets.guim.co.uk/static/frontend/css/print.css)  (man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb.html#maincontent) Skip to main content (man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb.html#navigation) Skip to navigation (Close [ESC or Q])   Close dialogue  1 / 2   (Next image [→])   Next image  (Previous image [←])   Previous image  (Toggle caption [i])   Toggle caption                 (https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D) Print subscriptions   (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters   (https://profile.theguardian.com/signin?INTCMP=DOTCOM_NEWHEADER_SIGNIN&ABCMP=ab-sign-in&componentEventParams=componentType%3Didentityauthentication%26componentId%3Dguardian_signin_header)   Sign in        US  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/us) US edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/uk) UK edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/au) Australia edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/eur) Europe edition  (https://www.theguardian.com/preference/edition/int) International edition      (https://www.theguardian.com/) The Guardian - Back to home             The Guardian    (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Show more    Hide expanded menu       News (https://www.theguardian.com/) View all News  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news) US news  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-politics) US politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/us-midterm-elections-2026) Midterms 2026  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World news  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/middleeast) Middle East  (https://www.theguardian.com/world/ukraine) Ukraine  (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/usimmigration) US immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness      Opinion (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) View all Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/editorial) The Guardian view  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/columnists) Columnists  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/letters) Letters  (https://www.theguardian.com/type/video+tone/comment) Opinion videos  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/cartoons) Cartoons      Sport (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) View all Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/soccer) Soccer  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nfl) NFL  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/tennis) Tennis  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/mlb) MLB  (https://www.theguardian.com/football/mls) MLS  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nba) NBA  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/wnba) WNBA  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nhl) NHL  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/formulaone) F1  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport/golf) Golf      Culture (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) View all Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/film) Film  (https://www.theguardian.com/books) Books  (https://www.theguardian.com/music) Music  (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign) Art & design  (https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio) TV & radio  (https://www.theguardian.com/stage) Stage  (https://www.theguardian.com/music/classicalmusicandopera) Classical  (https://www.theguardian.com/games) Games  (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/series/design-a-better-world) Design a better world      Lifestyle (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) View all Lifestyle  (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter-us) The Filter  (https://www.theguardian.com/us/wellness) Wellness  (https://www.theguardian.com/fashion) Fashion  (https://www.theguardian.com/food) Food  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/recipes) Recipes  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/love-and-sex) Love & sex  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/home-and-garden) Home & garden  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/health-and-wellbeing) Health & fitness  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/family) Family  (https://www.theguardian.com/travel) Travel  (https://www.theguardian.com/money) Money    Search input  (Search the Guardian)  google-search   Search       (www.theguardian.com)      (https://support.theguardian.com?acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22:%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22,%22componentType%22:%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22,%22componentId%22:%22side_menu_support%22%7D&INTCMP=side_menu_support) Support us  (https://support.theguardian.com/subscribe/weekly?REFPVID=undefined&INTCMP=undefined&acquisitionData=%7B%22source%22%3A%22GUARDIAN_WEB%22%2C%22componentId%22%3A%22PrintSubscriptionsHeaderLink%22%2C%22componentType%22%3A%22ACQUISITIONS_HEADER%22%2C%22referrerUrl%22%3A%22%22%7D) Print subscriptions  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters  (https://app.adjust.com/1hskf6nd?adgroup=USHeader) Download the app   (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital Archive  (https://licensing.theguardian.com/) Guardian Licensing  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_us_header_dropdown) Live events  (https://www.theguardian.com/about) About Us  (https://app.adjust.com/16xt6hai) The Guardian app  (https://www.theguardian.com/video) Video  (https://www.theguardian.com/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/inpictures) Pictures  (https://www.theguardian.com/insidetheguardian) Inside the Guardian  (https://www.theguardian.com/weekly?INTCMP=gdnwb_mawns_editorial_gweekly_GW_TopNav_US) Guardian Weekly  (https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords) Crosswords  (https://www.wordiply.com) Wordiply  (https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/series/corrections-and-clarifications) Corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tips    Search input  (Search the Guardian)  google-search   Search       (www.theguardian.com)   (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital Archive  (https://licensing.theguardian.com/) Guardian Licensing  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-live-events?INTCMP=live_us_header_dropdown) Live events  (https://www.theguardian.com/about) About Us         (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) AU politics   (https://www.theguardian.com/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/indigenous-australians) Indigenous Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-immigration-and-asylum) Immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/media) Media  (https://www.theguardian.com/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/health) Health  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/au/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters                    (Hannah Beazley speaks into a microphone)     0:27                   Man charged after allegedly threatening electoral staff and wielding nunchucks – video         (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) Australian politics     Man charged after allegedly making threats at Hannah Beazley’s electorate office while armed with nunchucks   Perth man charged with ‘being armed in a way that may cause fear’ – days after Helen Haines was allegedly attacked with 4WD outside her Victorian office Get our (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl) breaking news email , (https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3) free app or (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl) daily news podcast            (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/stephanie-convery) Stephanie Convery and  (https://www.theguardian.com/profile/caitlin-cassidy) Caitlin Cassidy   Thu 22 Oct 2026 01.42 EDT  First published on Wed 21 Oct 2026 22.11 EDT   (mailto:?subject=Man charged after allegedly making threats at Hannah Beazley’s electorate office while armed with nunchucks&body=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/22/man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url) Share          (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=theguardian.com) Prefer the Guardian on Google          A man has been charged after allegedly threatening staff and wielding nunchucks at the electoral office of the Western Australian local government minister, Hannah Beazley. The Perth incident came days after the federal independent MP (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/helen-haines) Helen Haines was hospitalised 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. Police said they received reports the man was making verbal threats while in possession of an “improvised martial arts weapon” described as “nunchucks”.       (Nunchucks allegedly used by man arrested for making threats at Hannah Beazley’s electorate office)   (man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb.html#img-1)   View image in fullscreen       Nunchucks allegedly used by man arrested for making threats at Hannah Beazley’s electorate office. Photograph: WA police force  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. (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/22/politicians-say-they-are-paying-thousands-for-own-security-upgrades-amid-rising-threats-ntwnfb)  Labor, Coalition and crossbench MPs afraid at home and work after alleged attack on Helen Haines     Read more        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,” the minister said. 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. “It’s not the first time I’ve had threats made against me. “My primary concern is the welfare of my staff, obviously. That was very rattling for them. They called the police.” (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed&CMP=emailbutton) Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email   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.” ‘A unique and pernicious form of attack’ 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. “I still receive that online. In fact, I was just saddened this morning to see some of the comments on my own Instagram page, in capitals with expletives, once again questioning the very nature of what it is that I do. “Women across the country know that there are certain things that are reserved for women … that go to our gender and they are often vicious and just despicable.” (man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb.html#EmailSignup-skip-link-21) skip past newsletter promotion     Free newsletter | Every weekday    Sign up to Politics, really  Our political team brings you up to speed on the stories that really matter and what they mean for you  ()   Enter your email  ()   Sign up      after newsletter promotion         (Former independent MP Cathy McGowan at a community vigil for Helen Haines)   (man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb.html#img-2)   View image in fullscreen       Former independent MP Cathy McGowan at a community vigil for Helen Haines. Photograph: Mridula Amin/The Guardian  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”. “The people here tonight don’t want violence … but that’s not to say when violence happens in their communities they know what to do about it,” McGowan said. “There’s a lot of violence in our communities, there’s a lot of violence online … there’s nothing new about this. “What the attack on Helen has brought to our mind is, this is us. We can’t just pretend that everything’s OK in the regions and we’re doing fine.” 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 in a statement. (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/22/helen-haines-canberra-inspiring-in-action-australia-politics-ntwnfb)  I spent a week watching Helen Haines in action in Canberra. It was the most inspiring week of my life | Tim Berenyi     Read more        “Most of us were in the office when the incident occurred and some of us were involved in Helen’s immediate care, so this has been deeply traumatic for the team. “We are receiving a great deal of support and my priority right now is making sure Helen’s staff are as OK as they can be. I’m so very proud of them and know Helen would be too.” Rourke said Haines’s staff were planning to reopen the electorate office “later next week”.         Explore more on these topics (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) Australian politics  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/helen-haines) Helen Haines  (https://www.theguardian.com/tone/news) news    (mailto:?subject=Man charged after allegedly making threats at Hannah Beazley’s electorate office while armed with nunchucks&body=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/22/man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url) Share     (https://syndication.theguardian.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Faustralia-news%2F2026%2Foct%2F22%2Fman-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb&type=article&internalpagecode=australia-news/2026/oct/22/man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb) (Reuse this content) Reuse this content            More on this story                        More on this story                       (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/15/woman-charged-after-allegedly-poisoning-colleagues-curry-lunch-with-snail-pellets-ntwnfb)    ()      Woman charged after allegedly poisoning colleague’s curry lunch with snail pellets   (Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 03:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 15 Oct 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/07/christopher-alan-saunders-broome-bishop-sexual-abuse-aboriginal-men-ntwnfb)    ()      Former bishop sentenced to more than six years in prison for sexually abusing young Aboriginal men    (Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 12:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 7 Oct 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/02/activists-plan-legal-action-against-police-ban-on-entering-security-zone-near-perth-weapons-expo)    ()      Activists plan legal action against police ban on entering security zone near Perth weapons expo   (Friday, October 2, 2026 at 04:31 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 2 Oct 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/28/after-a-dead-whale-washed-up-at-a-perth-beach-some-took-selfies-others-held-their-nose-from-the-stench)    ()      After a dead whale washed up at a Perth beach, some took selfies. Others held their nose from the stench   (Monday, September 28, 2026 at 05:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 28 Sept 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2026/sep/29/whale-carcass-washes-up-popular-perth-beach-onlookers-western-australia-video)    ()      Whale carcass washes up on popular Perth beach, drawing hundreds of onlookers – video   (Monday, September 28, 2026 at 05:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 28 Sept 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2026/sep/29/massive-great-white-shark-spotted-near-whale-carcass-at-popular-perth-beach-video)    ()      Massive great white shark spotted near whale carcass at popular Perth beach – video   (Monday, September 28, 2026 at 07:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 28 Sept 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2026/sep/14/western-australia-wildflower-season-bursts-to-life-in-pictures)    ()      Blankets of colour: Western Australia’s wildflower season bursts into life – in pictures   (Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 13 Sept 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/01/meth-hidden-in-mcmuffin-burger-police-car-search-western-australia-ntwnfb)    ()      Meal deal: meth found hidden inside McMuffin during a police car search in Western Australia   (Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 01:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 1 Sept 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/30/one-nations-secret-harbour-byelection-win-shows-labor-is-at-a-loss-when-it-comes-to-calming-angry-voters)    ()      One Nation’s Secret Harbour byelection win shows Labor is at a loss when it comes to calming angry voters    (Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 01:34 AM Eastern Daylight Time) 30 Aug 2026           (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/30/one-nation-claims-victory-on-secret-harbour-byelection-in-western-australia)    ()      One Nation claims victory in Secret Harbour byelection in Western Australia    (Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 08:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time) 30 Aug 2026                    Most viewed      Most viewed                                                       (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news) Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/world) World  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-politics) AU politics   (https://www.theguardian.com/environment) Environment  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-crisis) Climate crisis  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/indigenous-australians) Indigenous Australia  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/australian-immigration-and-asylum) Immigration  (https://www.theguardian.com/media) Media  (https://www.theguardian.com/business) Business  (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/health) Health  (https://www.theguardian.com/science) Science  (https://www.theguardian.com/technology) Tech  (https://www.theguardian.com/au/podcasts) Podcasts  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters) Newsletters       (https://www.theguardian.com/) News  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree) Opinion  (https://www.theguardian.com/sport) Sport  (https://www.theguardian.com/culture) Culture  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle) Lifestyle    Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning (https://www.theguardian.com/info/2018/sep/17/guardian-us-morning-briefing-sign-up-to-stay-informed) Sign up for our email     (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us) About us  (https://manage.theguardian.com/help-centre) Help  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/complaints-and-corrections) Complaints & corrections  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/about-guardian-us/contact) Contact us  (https://www.theguardian.com/tips) Tip us off  (https://www.theguardian.com/securedrop) SecureDrop  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/privacy) Privacy policy  (https://www.theguardian.com/info/cookies) Cookie policy  (https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2026/07/22/STL_Global_Tax_Strategy_for_the_year_to_31_March_2027.pdf) Tax strategy  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/terms-of-service) Terms & conditions   (https://www.theguardian.com/index/subjects/a) All topics  (https://www.theguardian.com/index/contributors) All writers  (https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?INTCMP=DOTCOM_FOOTER_NEWSLETTER_US) Newsletters  (https://theguardian.newspapers.com) Digital newspaper archive  (https://bsky.app/profile/us.theguardian.com) Bluesky  (https://www.facebook.com/theguardian) Facebook  (https://www.instagram.com/guardian) Instagram  (https://www.linkedin.com/company/theguardian) LinkedIn  (https://www.threads.com/@guardian_us) Threads  (https://www.tiktok.com/@guardian) TikTok  (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGuardian) YouTube   (https://usadvertising.theguardian.com) Advertise with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-labs-us) Guardian Labs  (https://workwithus.theguardian.com/) Work with us  (https://www.theguardian.com/help/accessibility-help) Accessibility settings         (man-with-nunchucks-arrested-wa-mp-hannah-beazley-ntwnfb.html#top) Back to top      © 2026Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.(dcr)