NSW MPs 'in tears' after parliament security briefing

In short:

Some NSW MPs who attended a parliament safety briefing say they have been left more concerned about their protection.

Liberal MP Alister Henskens said a few MPs were teary after the meeting, called after the attack on Helen Haines in Victoria.

What's next?

More special constables have been assigned and parliament is undergoing a major security upgrade.

A meeting that was supposed to reassure New South Wales MPs about their safety has left some politicians even more concerned about their levels of protection in parliament.

Following the attack on federal independent MP Helen Haines, state MPs were offered a security briefing from police and parliamentary security.

Not all of them got the answers they had hoped for.

"There was a high degree of anxiety following the briefing," Liberal MP Alister Henskens said.

"In fact, some of the MPs were in tears because the answers were so inadequate."

The attack on Ms Haines in Victoria magnified the security concerns that some NSW MPs already held, after an anti-coal protester jumped over the barrier of the public gallery and onto the floor of parliament last week.

While the demonstrator yelled at the premier, he was restrained by MPs and the deputy serjeant-at-arms until special constables arrived.

"The issue that occurred last week was the slowness of the response by security," Mr Henskens said.

'Box-ticking exercise'

During the briefing, several politicians advocated for heightened security in the chamber, including North Shore MP Felicity Wilson and Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston.

Mr Henskens said the security briefing seemed to gloss over the incident.

"It was only [during] questions that actually the incident of last week and the security response was even raised," he said.

"And it was done in a very piecemeal and inadequate way."

Several MPs, who asked not to be named, agreed with Mr Henskens's assessment.

"The elephant in the room wasn't addressed,"one MP said.

"They weren't taking it very seriously."

Another MP said the briefing seemed like a "box-ticking exercise".

Parliament security criticised

When the protester jumped the barrier last week, Speaker Greg Piper called for the audio-visual transmission of Question Time to halted.

"Cease the broadcast," he said.

This is standard protocol, which is partly designed to deprive those who interrupt parliament of multi-camera coverage.

However, MPs who attended the Thursday's briefing were told the interruption to transmission also left security personnel without a clear picture of what had happened in the chamber.

Mr Henskens said there was also confusion as to which security staff were allowed onto the tightly-controlled floor of parliament.

"We spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars on security, and yet a completely foreseeable event like this occurred last week," he said.

"They seem to have no idea how they should respond."

Mr Piper told the ABC he took the security of MPs seriously and additional special constables had been assigned as a result of last week's security breach in parliament.

During the security briefing, MPs raised another incident from last week, in which a fire alarm prompted the evacuation of parliament.

"The way in which people were able to re-enter parliament without any security whatsoever raised a lot of concerns amongst the MPs as to the safety," Mr Henskens said.

Parliament is in the process of a major security upgrade, including building additional checkpoints to control who comes and goes.

All visitors need to pass through metal detectors and have their bags X-rayed, unless they hold a security pass.

'We take every threat seriously'

On the same day Ms Haines was attacked, Nationals MP Nichole Overall received what she regarded an online death threat.

On Wednesday, Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst told parliament a man had previously broken into her apartment.

She said she had also received online threats suggesting she could be assassinated.

Ahead of the briefing, Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told 702 ABC Sydney MPs would be offered practical security advice.

He said local area commanders knew where MPs lived and would provide additional protection to them, if required.

"We take very prompt action. We take every threat seriously,"Mr Lanyon said.

MPs who attended the briefing said they were encouraged not to go to public events alone and to be mindful of advertising their locations.

Premier condemns abusive 'pigs'

While NSW Premier Chris Minns has had close encounters with non-violent protesters, he said he had not had any "major problems".

Mr Minns is provided with a team of specially-trained police officers who protect him and other high-profile dignitaries.

However he said his female parliamentary colleagues were repeatedly targeted by individuals who he described as "scum" and "pigs".

"I haven't met a female member of parliament who hasn't, at one stage or another, been attacked in person, or online, and usually both,"he said.

Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane, who has also been subjected to online threats, said it had changed the way she worked.

"I can't advertise my location anymore and it's a real shame," she said.

However, she said she would not allow the "anger and frustration" of a small number of voters stop her connecting with people.

"Unfortunately, it just means we have to look over our shoulder a bit more."