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Authorities have confirmed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has safely returned to The Lodge, his official residence in Canberra, following an evacuation prompted by a potential security threat.
SBS News reported that law enforcement was dispatched to Albanese’s residence, necessitating his relocation for several hours as they assessed the situation.
The security alert began on Tuesday evening, with federal police responding to a reported bomb threat starting at 6 p.m.
In a statement, the Australian Federal Police assured, “A thorough search of a protection establishment was undertaken and nothing suspicious was located.”
The police further stated, “There is no current threat to the community or public safety.”
Threats to politicians have escalated in recent months.
Speaking to the ABC on Wednesday morning, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the incident was “very troubling”.
“The prime minister has been saying it for months, we need to take the temperature down,” she said.
“This isn’t our country, we’ve seen in other countries where there [is] political violence and threats against politicians, but here in Australia, we’re lucky to get around and mix with the community.”
Opposition leader Angus Taylor said he was pleased to hear the prime minister was safe after evacuating.
“Threats against any parliamentarian are utterly abhorrent, especially in a country built on expressing our differences through debate,” he said on social media.
This incident comes after a man was arrested and charged for allegedly throwing a rock and a fake explosive device through the window of Canberra’s well-known Hyatt Hotel last week.
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