The prime minister says politicians need to be able to shop, go to community events, and freely engage with people, as calls grow for a revamp of MPs' protection procedures following an alleged attack.
Member for Indi Helen Haines remains in a critical condition after being struck by a four-wheel drive car outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, in northern Victoria, on Monday afternoon.
It's alleged Brendan Nugent, 43, deliberately drove the LandCruiser into Dr Haines.
The shocking incident has prompted debate over whether the security around MPs is adequate, as well as triggering reiterations of warnings from security services who have spent years documenting a surge in threats against political figures.
"It has to be the case in my view, very strongly, that we need to be able to attend community events, festivals - we need to be able to go shopping, and to engage with people in the queues of Aldi or Woolies or Coles," Anthony Albanese told News24 on Wednesday.
"People do need to go about their business, and people need to be also not wary about running for public office."
Nearly one person a week on average is being charged with targeting federal parliamentarians and high office-holders, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett revealed on Wednesday.
Politicians of all stripes have noted increasing threats to their personal safety, with independent MP Monique Ryan revealing she had flagged "at least" two such menaces since Monday.
Ms Barrett described Australia's current criminal threat environment as "febrile", but said putting bodyguards around every elected official would be a mammoth undertaking.
"That would be an incredible amount of resourcing," Ms Barrett told reporters on Wednesday.
"It is not always a full close personal protection team, indeed there are circumstances where that is the case, but there are layers of protection."
The agency is joining ASIO and the home affairs department to brief MPs and senators on their security on Wednesday.
Victoria Police Commissioner Mike Bush added the state's police was mobilising ahead of the state's November election.
"We are ... leveraging our state command and coordination centre to ensure that we are right across any potential threats, especially leading up to the election, against any politicians," he said.
Protection of elected officials received a funding boost in May's federal budget, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday.
Politicians were provided protection details based on security services' assessment of their unique risks, Ms Barrett said.
An AFP spokesperson told AAP the agency does not comment on specific protection measures.
There was no specific prior intelligence Nugent might attack Dr Haines, who has been described as a well-liked and respected MP within her community and the parliament, authorities said.
Australian politicians were "uniquely accessible to the public", according to opposition defence spokesman James Paterson, who said MPs were particularly visible and vulnerable at their poorly protected electorate offices.
On Wednesday morning, Nugent was charged with several offences including causing harm to a Commonwealth public official and faced Wangaratta Magistrates Court, where he was remanded in custody until February.
