<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Opposition leader Peter Dutton has spoken about reportedly being targeted in an alleged terror plot, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reached out to support his opponent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dutton was the intended target of a 16-year-old boy who is facing court for allegedly buying bomb-making ingredients to prepare for an attack in Brisbane, </span><em><span>The Australian</span></em><span> has reported.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dutton was asked about the alleged incident at a press conference this afternoon, where he said his first thoughts had always been about the safety of his family.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-election-2025-scott-yung-bennelong-easter-eggs-lane-cove-public-school/76643c38-c244-4033-9140-c4e37757d16b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Liberal candidate in hot water for handing out Easter eggs outside school</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The Australian Federal Police (AFP) do a great job and they have constant discussions and dialogue with us," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dutton said he has had the same security detail as the Prime Minister and Governor General Sam Mostyn after his time as immigration minister from 2014-17 when he deported thousands of criminals and oversaw Operation Sovereign Borders.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's been an impact on my family. They've been stoic and never complained about the security that's been around me and my family and federal police at home," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/federal-politics-2025-peter-dutton-speaks-on-reported-targeting-of-alleged-terror-plot-anthony-albanese-shows-support/2c5789b0-f35f-44ab-b6a1-7ef9bdf62604" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But that's what started the need for security and I wouldn't change any of that because I know the decisions I took actually stopped further women from becoming victims of rapists and I know that the murders that I deported from our country are no longer a threat to Australian people.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm incredibly grateful to the AFP that my family is kept safe. I've never felt unsafe one day in this job."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dutton has spent the day fending off questions about the alleged terror plot. Earlier today at a West Australian forum in Perth, he refused to answer a question about it and instead said that politics is "brutal business, no question about it".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/use-ai-to-write-emails-work-risks-pitfalls/aad554ec-0d8b-49c1-9047-f497e75ce3a2" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Michael used AI to write a work email. It ended up costing him $2000</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's the reason my three children have been cured of any interest in politics whatsoever and I see it as a small blessing," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I feel an immense sense of pride being able to work in the job I work in and it takes a decision at some point in your life that you want to abandon your anonymity and contribute to a country that you love very much."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese said he contacted Dutton this morning after hearing the reports, adding that there was no place in politics for these types of threats.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I have reached out to Peter Dutton this morning and it is a fact that the number of threats that have been made to parliamentarians has increased in recent times and that has been reported on by the appropriate authorities," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I, myself, have been the subject of a range of issues, at least one of which is before legal processes at the moment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They shouldn't be, there's no place whatsoever in politics for any of this and I have ensured that any time any member of parliament, regardless of who they are, have asked for support, they have received it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both major party leaders have also been forced to up their security in the wake of protests along the campaign trail ahead of the federal election on May 3. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/white-house-must-facilitate-return-of-mistakenly-deported-man/66fe2347-46a6-4f00-b2c0-a516eab61a83" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Top court's order to White House over man mistakenly deported</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>AFP reports growing threats against politicians </span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw, ahead of the federal election campaign trail, told Senate Estimates that there had been an increase in the reports of threats to high office holders, federal politicians, dignitaries and electorate offices.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The numbers grew from 555 in 2021-22 to 1009 in 2023-24.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia is on track to surpass that figure this year as there have already been 712 reports from the 2024 financial year to February 28.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The politicians who have been targeted are across the political spectrum, live throughout Australia and are of different backgrounds," he said in his opening statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A lot of these threats are directed at male politicians and high office holders. However, the nature of threats and comments directed at female parliamentarians and high office holders are particularly troubling.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-tate-allegedly-pointed-gun-at-womans-head-uk-lawsuit/17f378ed-0029-440d-8f82-8543ff97e428" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Andrew Tate threatened woman with gun, UK lawsuit alleges</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australia's politicians and high office holders are being targeted because they have a public profile, because of the comments they have made in the media, or their positions on policy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"However, in some cases, it appears male offenders are targeting women – because they are women – or women with an ethnic background."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Six men, aged between 29 to 64, have been charged over five separate incidents in the past 13 weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The AFP has developed election-specific security advice ahead of the federal election and has an incident coordination centre operating seven days a week to manage any incidents related to the election.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This goes to the heart of protecting our democracy and ensuring the cowards behind the correspondence do not silence the voices who serve and contribute to Australia," Kershaw said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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