'You're always looking over your shoulder': Hunter MPs express safety concerns following attack

More MPs were expressing concerns about their personal safety in an increasingly polarised community, NSW Premier Chris Minns has acknowledged.

Speaking in Teralba surrounded by Hunter state MPs following the attack on Victorian independent MP Helen Haines, Mr Minns said some MPs had raised safety concerns with him and Police Minister Yasmin Catley.

"That's obviously a massive concern. We need people getting involved in public life, we don't want fewer people. We want more, and this will be a big disincentive when people see events like this," he said.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said he had received security training and was far more aware of his surroundings after 19-year-old Jordan Patten entered his electorate office while armed with knives and tactical equipment in June 2024.

Patten live streamed himself in Mr Crakanthorp's office before he left and walked towards Newcastle Museum where he was arrested.

"I had a bit of security training after that incident. You always try and walk a different way to the car, you're always looking over your shoulder," Mr Crakanthorp said.

Like his colleagues, Mr Crakanthorp spends several hours a week by himself door knocking in his electorate.

He said had noticed a change in how people expressed their political views.

"People have become a lot more emboldened. Once they would just have a shot at Labor and slam the door in your face, but these days they will start going on with One Nation type rhetoric or talking about guns," he said.

Swansea MP Yasmin Catley, who is also Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism and Minister for the Hunter, acknowledged that she thought about her safety more than she used to.

"I'm deeply saddened by what has happened to Dr Helen Haines who is a universally well-regarded MP," she said.

"I've been in public life for a long time, and it's sad to say that I now think about my own safety in ways I never used to.

"We should expect better in a democracy like ours. Robust debate is one thing, but threats, abuse, hateful language and physical attacks are crimes, pure and simple."

Port Stephens MP Kate Washington, who is also Families and Communities Minister, told the Newcastle Herald some people felt entitled to send through terribly abusive and threatening messages to elected representatives.

"Once upon a time, you could dismiss those things as keyboard warriors who would never be so impolite in real life," she said.

"But the temperature is getting pretty worrying. I'm worried that, instead of disagreement and discussion, we so often see hatred and anger. It not only presents greater personal risks, but will end up deterring good people from seeing elected office as a path for them."

Mr Minns said it was impossible to create a security system to protect elected representatives from all possible threats.

"Members of Parliament meet members of the community. We want that, we need it," he said.

"So part of it is security. Part of it is the culture of our democracy, and I think we've probably got to have to work on both, but there are some things you can't do. We can't wrap our MPs up in cotton wool. We can't put them behind high fences. We can't keep them out of the public view. Our democracy doesn't work that way."