Man Armed With Nunchucks Charged Over Alleged Threats at WA Minister’s Office

Police are seen in Perth, Australia, on April 12, 2025. Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

A Perth man has been charged over alleged threats made while armed with nunchucks at the electorate office of a Western Australian (WA) Labor minister.

The incident comes just three days after independent federal MP Helen Haines lost both legs in an alleged deliberate car-ramming attack outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, Victoria.

WA Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley described the incident as “really confronting” after an armed member of the public entered her electorate office and threatened staff.

“He was being very threatening. He did want access to me I believe, but we don’t know his motivations,” she told reporters in Perth.

Beazley, the daughter of former federal Labor Leader Kim Beazley, said her primary concern was the welfare of her staff.

“They called the police. I do want to say a really big thank you to the police her were on the scene in a matter of minutes and had a person in custody within half an hour,” she said.

“That’s extraordinary policing and the support they have provided to my staff has been of great comfort to them.”

WA Police confirmed a 56-year-old Bentley man had been charged following the incident at the Victoria Park electorate office on Albany Highway on Oct. 21.

“About 1:15 p.m., police received a report of a man causing a disturbance at an electoral office on Albany Highway,” police said in a statement.

“It will be alleged the man made verbal threats while in possession of an improvised martial arts weapon [nunchucks].”

He faces three charges: being armed in away that may cause fear, making a threat to unlawfully do an act and possessing the prohibited drug cannabis.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear before Perth Magistrates Court on Oct. 22.