News Centre

The AFP will lead Special Operation Avalite to investigate threats, violence and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians.

Twenty-one AFP police and analysts, who are an experienced squad of counter terrorism investigators, will deploy nationally to incidents to investigate:

• Urging violence against members of groups;
• Advocating Terrorism;
• Advocating Genocide;
• Using a carriage service to make a threat; and
• Using a carriage service to menace or harass.

The Special Operation will bring together specialist areas in ASIO and AFP to focus on anti-Semitism threats and offences. 

The public will be encouraged to continue to report to the National Security Hotline to report matters with the highest assurance that all matters will be actioned. The National Security Number is 1800 123 400.

The Special Operation will continue to use the national arrangements under the National Counter Terrorism framework to work with State and Territory Police in actioning matters.

Investigators will leverage the national counter terrorism arrangements, in particular work with state and territory police.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said he acknowledged today’s referral of the Adass Israel Synagogue fire attack to the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which unlocks the powers and capabilities of the AFP, ASIO and Victoria Police.

“The AFP’s remit is to protect Australians and Australia’s way of life – and for many months, the AFP has been discussing how we can better support our state and territory partners to investigate hate crimes or threats against vulnerable communities,’’ Commissioner Kershaw said.

“Unfortunately, in Australia today, those of Jewish ethnicity or religion are being targeted because of who they are.

“This is a crime. This needs to stop.

“And today the AFP will expand its remit with the support of the Commonwealth Government.

“The AFP will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australia’s security or our way of life.”