Police protection ramped up for ministers

The Abbott government has ramped up personal security for some of his ministers in the wake of an angry backlash over the federal budget.

Four ministers — Treasurer Joe Hockey, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Education Minister Christopher Pyne and junior Defence Minister Stuart Robert — have been assigned personal protection officers from the Australian Federal Police in the month since the budget's release, Fairfax reports.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has also been assigned a protection team in recent months, but that reportedly is related to his controversial portfolio, not the budget.

The protection officers accompany the ministers at public events, like when Mr Hockey appeared on the ABC's Q&A six days after the budget, or when Ms Bishop visited Sydney University three days after the budget and was jostled by angry students.

Government sources have said the high level of security measures is unusual.

Normally police protection teams are only assigned full-time to protect the prime minister of the day as well as the Israeli and US ambassadors.

Source: Fairfax

Author: Erin Tennant, Approving editor: Jack Hawke