Man Accused of Threatening MP Claims He Was Playing Musical Instrument

A man charged over an allegedly threatening incident at a local Labor MP's office has told a Perth court he was holding a musical instrument, not a weapon, as police allege.

John Lawrence Smart, 56, is accused of making threats at the MP's electorate office in inner-city Victoria Park on Wednesday while in possession of an "improvised martial arts weapon".

Claims of Musical Instrument

But during the hearing, Mr Smart said the items were claves, wooden percussion sticks, which he had been playing for years.

"They don't understand what I'm going through,"

he said at one point, holding his head in his hands during the hearing.

Mental Health History

The court heard Mr Smart has a diagnosis of schizophrenia and has been an involuntary mental health patient in the past.

The magistrate said she had been given a "multi-page mental health assessment".

Court Proceedings

The magistrate refused bail and Mr Smart will appear in court again on October 29.

The court heard he may be put on the wait list for the Frankland psychiatric facility.

MP's Response

Speaking earlier outside parliament, the MP said Wednesday's incident was not the first time she has faced "very menacing" threats.

"I could not be prouder of them. I also could not be more worried about them,"

she told reporters, praising her staff's handling of the incident.

The MP's office remained closed on Thursday, although staff were still working.