Intruders caught on security cameras at home of Victorian MP Andy Meddick

Threats against Victorian MP’s has risen dramatically and one MP who is subjected to vicious abuse has revealed what his home security cameras have picked up.

INTRUDERS have tried to enter an MP’s home at night, as threats and abuse against parliamentarians spike after the ban of gay conversion therapy.

Some MP’s also fear the “coercive” nature of the campaigns against them could impact on democracy and might already be influencing crucial votes.

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick observed a number of people on his home security system trying to access his Torquay property.

“What I find alarming and also an act of cowardice, is they choose times they know I am not there,” the upper house member told the Herald Sun.

Threats and abuse had been steadily building - and intensified with the passage of the state of diaster legislation - and he feared one day someone would follow through with their threats.

“A lot of it is actually out there on social media, so it’s there for anyone to see - we take it extremely seriously.”

Mr Meddick said a trend had emerged recently where people felt a right to “threaten and harass MPs”.

Victorian Upper House MP Andy Meddick has had serious threats against him.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten is troubled by the coercive nature of the campaigns.

“It’s been a real change. They believe they can influence how an MP votes, it’s really concerning.”

He has had to call police about threats in the past where he was told there would be a “bullet in the back of your head” and specific threats against his family.

Reason Party MP Fiona Patten said she was troubled by the well funded and planned campaigns backed by religious groups that aimed to influence votes.

In most cases, the calls and emails MP’s were getting were coming from outside their electorates.

“I am concerned by the coercive nature of it, and we are seeing it now in ways that we haven’t done so before,” Ms Patten said.

Their campaigns could “wield huge power” and independent and smaller parties were the most susceptible - the result was religious groups and others masquerading as lobby groups were having an “undue influence” over political life, she said.

“They are probably already having an effect”.

Transport Matters MP Rod Barton said the threats had been steadily building - and now included families and staff.

“They are well organised and really ramped up over the state of emergency [laws]. People are so wound up.”

As a result, security measures, particularly to do with staff, were enhanced.

“There is a need to be more careful.”

Late last year, the Victorian parliament contacted members to recommend added security measures, with politicians across the political spectrum, including Premier Daniel Andrews, among those to have received threats.

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