News Centre

Good afternoon Senators.

Today I want to provide some practical information about the safety and protection of parliamentarians and high office holders for the weeks and months ahead.

I have sobering information I need to share, and at end of this hearing, can I encourage you all to think about your plans for the upcoming poll, and consider providing the AFP with relevant details so we can make informed decisions, and provide you with necessary advice.

The number of reports of threats to high office holders, federal parliamentarians, dignitaries and electorate offices continue to grow.

• In 2021-22, there were 555 reports; 
• In 2022-23, there were 709 reports; 
• In 2023-24, there were 1,009 reports; and 
• This financial year, as of 28 February, 2025, there have been 712 reports. At this rate, the number of threats this financial year will surpass those in 2023-24.

These numbers refer to the total number of threats and reports of harassment, nuisance and offensive communications reported to the AFP.

It includes both direct and indirect threats relating to, or reported by, protected interests.

The politicians who have been targeted are across the political spectrum, live throughout Australia and are of different backgrounds.

A lot of these threats are directed at male politicians and high office holders. However, the nature of threats and comments directed at female parliamentarians and high office holders are particularly troubling.

Australia’s politicians and high office holders are being targeted because they have a public profile, because of the comments they have made in the media, or their positions on policy.

However, in some cases it appears male offenders are targeting women – because they are women – or women with an ethnic background.

The AFP will not tolerate this criminality and will take swift action. 

While not all reports of crime will reach a criminal threshold, and not all parliamentarians and high office holders will want us to lay formal charges, often they will ask us just to talk to the alleged offender.

Noting that the AFP has a victim-centric approach, we will often be guided by their wishes and deploy the blue uniform to knock on an offender’s door. This can be enough to stop the harassment. And usually when we knock on their door they are shocked to see us – one – because they probably thought we could not identify them; and two, because they say they never meant to cause offence.

In the past 13 weeks, we have charged six men, in five separate incidents for allegedly threatening parliamentarians and one man for allegedly threatening a political organisation.

Their ages range from 29 years to 64 years.

While these are concerning statistics, our febrile environment in Australia is similar to many other democracies.

COVID-19 has contributed to a growing distrust in traditional institutions and polarised community views.

And anonymising platforms have emboldened people to make comments and threats from a distance.

In Australia, we are recording an increase in issue-motivated extremism, and offenders who are quickly willing to use violence to further their cause.

For those at the table today, and more broadly across the parliament, there is formal protective security advice in the Stay Secure booklet. 

We also provide advice on planned official engagements, which enables the AFP to assess whether a parliamentarian’s activities may present an increased security risk – this is a standard practice and will continue post-election.

Not all offices do this – but I encourage you all to consider the offer because we need to work in partnership with you all.

The closer we cooperate, the better the service the AFP will be able to provide.

The AFP has developed election-specific protected security advice. This has been prepared in consultation with key Commonwealth agencies and offers practical advice to address key campaign risk for parliamentarians. 

This advice is available for parliamentarians and their staff to reinforce the importance of personal security as well as the reporting mechanisms for responses and intervention where required.

Right now, our Security Protection Diplomatic Liaison Teams around the country are engaging with parliamentarians and their staff.

The AFP has also established Operation AUSTRALIS25, which is supported by Commonwealth agencies and state and territory law enforcement partners to enable a coordinated, rapid response for triaging, assessing and acting upon threats and reports of crime. 

An Incident Coordination Centre will operate seven days a week and will manage all of the operations and information related to the Federal Election.

I know some of this information will be confronting to parliamentarians, staff and families, however we need to provide the right education not just for victims but to deter those who think it is acceptable to threaten politicians or high office holders.

This goes to the heart of protecting our democracy and ensuring the cowards behind the correspondence do not silence the voices who serve and contribute to Australia. 

Thank you, I wish you all a safe campaign, and we are happy to take questions.

ENDS