Roundup: Protesters return to Australia's Parliament as gov't mulls security upgrades

Protesters who shut down Australia's Parliament during Question Time on Wednesday afternoon returned to the Parliament House Thursday morning, unfurling a banner condemning the Australian government's stance on off-shore detention across the front of the building.

A pair of protesters abseiled down the front of the Parliament House and unveiled a large banner which urges the government to "close the 'bloody' camps now". It was accompanied by the hashtag: #Justice4TheRefugees.

The activists also dyed the shallow pool in front of the Parliament building red to symbolize blood, while protesters peacefully held signs describing the coalition government as "world leaders in cruelty" and the Labor opposition as providing "no opposition to cruelty".

The protest comes a day after the same group of activists entered the public viewing area in the House of Representatives, superglued themselves to the seats and yelled at MPs, while it also coincides on the same day that the Senate is expected to vote on laws to tighten security at Parliament, a plan which came under fire from MPs and the public when it was brought up earlier this week.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turbull told the Seven Network on Thursday morning that while he wasn't concerned for his safety during Wednesday's protest, they had interrupted democracy and could face charges.

"I wasn't concerned for my personal safety but I was concerned that the parliament could be in trouble like that," Turnbull told the Seven Network.

"The demonstrators, who rioted in the gallery, were interrupting the people's house. They were interrupting democracy."

"It's not for me to press charges, that is a matter for the police. They let them off scot-free. The security needs to be looked at."

Turnbull said the protests come at an interesting time in Canberra, with the Senate to debate tightening security at the Parliament House on Thursday afternoon, before Senators and MPs head home for Christmas break.

Under the proposed changes, members of the public would be disallowed from walking on the lawns directly over the top of Parliament House, something currently allowed and encouraged, while a 2.6 meter fence could also be erected around the building.

"It is part of the nature of the Parliament to be open," Turnbull said. "I think we need to examine how these people came in. We need to work out whether there can be better screening of people who come into the public galleries."

"They came in with super glue and a big banner, but I would regard putting glass screens up (in the public gallery) as a last resort."

Labor MP Jim Chalmers said while the disruption on Wednesday was a slight cause for concern, the Senate shouldn't consider a "knee-jerk reaction" when determining whether or not to mess with the security laws.

"The security guards did a terrific job as they always do," Chalmers told Sky News on Thursday.

"I don't think we should overreact in either direction when we have these sorts of protests. We have processes in place."

"It's good that they get reviewed so we get a balance between letting people have their say and the safety of the people in the building.

The Parliament House security bill is expected to debated on Thursday, but crossbench Senators are hesitant to support the measures, with Derryn Hinch saying he would vote against the laws as it would be like "wrapping the Sydney Opera House in barbed wire... wrong", while Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm said training more security staff would be more cost-effective.

"I think a better idea would be just for the Parliament security staff to be alert to the fact that stunts sometimes will occur," Leyonhjelm said after Wednesday afternoon's protests.

Thursday is Parliament's final sitting day of the year. Endit