Anthony Albanese has hit out at what he sees as flippant media coverage of an attack on Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles.
Ms Fyles was walking through Darwin's Nightcliff markets on Sunday when a passer-by shoved a cream-covered crepe into her face.
The chief minister sustained a black eye and Mr Albanese said the incident was no laughing matter.
"The attack on Natasha Fyles should not not be dismissed as something that is light-hearted," he said on Tuesday.
"People think that's just a bit of cream thrown. It was a plate smashed in the face of the chief minister of the Northern Territory that was going about her day and thought it was a friend approaching.
"The consequences of that could have been much more serious than they've turned out to be."
A 56-year-old woman was charged with aggravated assault over the incident and was bailed to appear in court on October 10.
Ms Fyles on Monday said she would not be deterred from doing her job.
The incident comes after the NT leader was left distressed when anti-fracking protesters confronted her while she was taking part in a trail running event in May.
NT police said they were working with the government and the minister's team on security measures.
