Armed man arrested after threats at WA minister's office

A 56 year old man has been arrested after allegedly threatening staff while armed with homemade nunchucks at the electorate office of Western Australian Government Minister Hannah Beazley.

The incident occurred about 1:15pm on Wednesday at the Minister's office on Albany Highway in Victoria Park.

WA Police responded to reports of a man causing a disturbance before locating and apprehending him in nearby Bentley.

No injuries were reported, although staff were left shaken by the incident.

The arrest comes just two days after federal independent MP Helen Haines was seriously injured in an alleged targeted vehicle attack outside her Victorian electorate office.

Man allegedly demanded access to minister

Speaking to ABC News, Ms Beazley said the man had been asking for her by name and demanding to see her while brandishing what appeared to be homemade nunchucks.

The Minister said her immediate concern was for the safety of staff working inside the office.

She described the incident as confronting and said employees were understandably distressed.

Police confirmed the man was assisting investigators with their inquiries.

His alleged motivation has not been established, and no criminal charges had been confirmed in the initial reports reviewed by WA in Focus.

Growing concerns about political security

The incident follows heightened national concerns about the safety of elected representatives and their staff.

On Monday, federal MP Helen Haines was seriously injured in an alleged attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria.

A man has been charged in connection with that separate incident.

There is no established connection between the alleged attack in Victoria and Wednesday's disturbance in Perth.

However, the events have renewed attention on the security arrangements protecting Australia's elected representatives.

Unlike Parliament House, electorate offices are intended to be accessible to the communities MPs represent.

Constituents regularly attend these offices to seek assistance with government services, raise concerns or arrange meetings.

That accessibility also creates challenges when staff are confronted with threatening or aggressive behaviour.

Ms Beazley has indicated she wants to remain accessible to her constituents despite the incident.