Armed guards to man Parliament chambers in Australia-first

Armed guards will be stationed in both chambers of the Federal Parliament for the first time in Australian history, it has been revealed.

The move is part of the second tranche of security changes introduced by Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Senate president Stephen Parry, and will see guards tasked with the protection of MPs and senators, Fairfax Media reports.

As of Monday, several security staffers with guns are now stationed on the ground level of Parliament's House of Representatives and the Senate.

They will be stationed inside a glass-enclosed booth where the parliamentary audio visual department is located whenever Prime Minister Tony Abbott or a member of his ministry is present.

Previously, an unarmed security detail would accompany the prime minister.

The new security measure follow a raft of changes by Ms Bishop and Senator Parry in September after the terrorism threat level was raised to high.

They included Australian Federal Police armed with assault rifles being stationed in plain sight both in and outside the chamber. Security was also handed over to the AFP.

A spokesman for Ms Bishop declined to comment on the changes but did not deny the story.