Stay secure: Security Protection Diplomatic Liaison

The AFP’s role is to enforce Commonwealth criminal law, contribute to combating complex, transnational, serious and organised crime impacting Australia’s national security and to protect Commonwealth interests from criminal activity in Australia and overseas. The AFP also has responsibility for providing policing services to the Australian Capital Territory and Australia’s territories, including Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island and Jervis Bay.

The AFP works closely with a range of other law enforcement and government agencies at state, territory, Commonwealth and international levels, enhancing safety and providing a secure regional and global environment.

The AFP has responsibility for the provision of protective services in accordance with section 8 of the Australian Federal Police Act (1979) and the current Ministerial Direction. The AFP provides full time protection to the Prime Minister, Governor-General and selected Ministers. Protective security services are provided to other Ministers or members of parliament based on identified risk. Additionally, the AFP provides full time protection to select non-Australian high office holders, noting their role, function and status as Internationally Protected Persons.

SPDL are teams of experienced Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers located around Australia, including a team at APH. SPDL provide a discreet police point of contact 24 hours, 7 days a week, for parliamentarians and the diplomatic community. SPDL facilitate an initial process of inquiry to inform the most appropriate operational response or course of action to resolve allegations of criminal conduct. If potential offences have been identified and there is likely sufficient evidence to warrant further investigation, the matter is referred to a relevant investigative area.

The SPDLs can provide advice and assistance on matters involving:

• Security risks, threats or incidents involving the diplomatic community and Australian high office holders and their staff.
• This also includes reporting of:
  • harassing, offensive or menacing correspondence
  • suspicious mail or emails
  • threatening mail or emails
  • threatening or harassing phone calls
  • disturbed and/or fixated individuals.
• Protest activity
• General security advice, including cyber
• General policing information.

SPDL can be contacted on the relevant state or territory contact number at the bottom of this page.

DHA provides residential security supports to Australian high office holders_^* and parliamentarians deemed ‘at risk’ by the AFP.

^*Australian high office holders are defined as the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, Government Ministers, the Presiding Officers, and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

DoF provides all parliamentarians with Electorate Offices (EOs) and Ministerial Offices (where applicable). DoF is also responsible for Commonwealth Parliament Offices (CPOs) located in the capital city of each state and territory. DoF is primarily responsible for the provision and implementation of physical security measures, including recommendations by the DHA, in EOs and CPOs

The DPS works jointly with the AFP to ensure APH remains a safe and accessible building for parliamentarians, staff and visitors. DPS support the information communication technology (ICT) requirements of parliamentarians by providing ICT, mobile devices and specific cyber security briefings for those parliamentarians travelling with DPS issued devices.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation protects Australia and Australians from threats to security. ASIO operates lawfully, in proportion to the threats we are investigating, and in line with the standards and expectations of the Australian community.

For the purposes of ASIO’s work, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act (1979) defines security as:

• Acts of foreign interference
• Attacks on Australia’s defence system
• Espionage
• Politically motivated violence including terrorism
• Promotion of communal violence
• Sabotage
• Serious threats to Australia’s order integrity.

Members of the public who have an issue or concern relevant to ASIO’s responsibilities can call 1800 020 648.  Life threatening and emergency situations should always be reported to the police immediately by calling 000.

• Responds to incidents occurring in their jurisdiction
• Provides operational support at official events on a case-by-case basis.

Investigates security incidents within their jurisdiction and provides reporting to security agencies for assessment.

Harassing, offensive or nuisance mail includes any correspondence containing threats and originating from individuals obsessed with religious, political or any other issue  that may be of interest to police.

Correspondence may include:

• Direct or implicit threats
• Offensive material
• Comments of concern including self-harm and end of life statements. This needs to be reported to the AFP NOSSC as soon as possible to ensure the welfare of the person involved can be checked. Contact NOSSC on(02) 5127 0001.

What to do

If you continue to receive this type of correspondence from an identifiable sender:

• Consider notifying the sender to cease corresponding with your office. This will make it clear to the sender their correspondence is uninvited
• In the case of email correspondence, you can also establish a rule in your email to redirect any correspondence from the sender to a spam folder
• Save the correspondence to a separate folder and refer to SPDL with the original email or scanned original paper correspondence as an attached file.

What to do if you identify a suspicious package:

• Try to remove staff from the vicinity of the package
• Notify local police and SPDL as soon as possible.

Further advice on suspicious mail/packages can be provided by SPDL.

What to do:

Do not handle the threatening mail if possible, this will allow for improved scientific/fingerprint examination. Mail items are retained by police and may be required for evidentiary purposes.

Stay safe and avoid danger, your safety is your priority

• Avoid the area around the escalating protests
• Avoid confrontation with protesters; do not engage
• If you're safe where you are, stay put. Many protests are short. You may be able to wait until the protestors leave
• If it's not safe where you are, get to safety. If possible, go back to your office, accommodation, a police station or other safe place away from the unrest
• If it's a march, find out the route and where it's going, avoid it
• Follow instructions from local authorities
• Do what you're told by the local first responders, including police and paramedics
• Get help if you're hurt
• Check in with your supervisor and colleagues. Tell colleagues, family and friends you're okay.

Stay updated

• Make sure it is safe to leave your location
• Watch the news and check social media for developments
• Find out what your options are. For example, if roads are closed, the trains may still run
• Try to organise your transport in advance. You may get stuck in a transport hub trying to get out with everyone else

Immediate danger, or threat to life

• If you need urgent help, call000.

We recognise that parliamentarians have policy interests that may lead to interest in engaging protestors.  Contact SPDL for security advice as needed.

Do not engage protesters if there are any behaviours observed that indicate concerning or unlawful activity.

The Authorised Assembly Area is the only area within the Parliamentary Precincts where protests are to be held. If protest activity is identified elsewhere within the Parliamentary Precincts, please report to (02) 6277 5999.

When leaving the building remove forms of identification, such as your access pass.

Ensure your office staff are aware of the emergency tones and participate in lockdown or emergency exercises as notified by DPS.

If protesters threaten harm, impede access to exit and entry points or ty to gain access immediately call+612 6277 7117 to report.

If you are aware a protest is scheduled, consider changing opening hours or working arrangements at that time.

If the protesters are peaceful and only temporarily blocking as they pass by, stay secure in your office and do not engage.

If the protesters impede functioning of the electorate office, call the local police and request advice.  

Do not attempt to open a locked office and retrieve signage or other items – these can be replaced if they are removed or destroyed.

If the protesters are violent (damaging property or threatening harm), call000 and activate the duress alarm. 

Do not engage with protestors, especially constituents or staff entering or leaving the facility.

Educate all staff as to what you expect of them during the protest, remain calm and keep safe at a distance.

If protesters are blocking entry or exits to your location, notify local police, and do not engage directly with protesters.

If protesters are acting in a threatening way to yourself or members of public, call000 and activate the duress alarm.

Closely monitor who gains access to your building.

Ensure you are regularly testing duress and lock-down functions in offices, and new staff are trained how to use these functions.

Follow the advice of local emergency services.

Ensure all staff members are safe and accounted for and follow your emergency procedures and incident reporting, post the event.

Event Organiser- official events

All official events, no matter the nature or size, will have risks. It is your responsibility as the event organiser to identify and manage these risks for both staff and the public. Event organisers can effectively manage risks by anticipating, understanding and making decisions on how to manage and control risks.

All risks, including possible protester activity, should be carefully analysed and then rated according to likelihood and impact on your official events. Control measures should then be developed to reduce the likelihood of risks occurring. Comparing the benefits and costs will help you decide your mitigation strategies. Focus on risks that have significant impacts or consequences.

Your risk management plan should form part of your emergency management approach. Once you have developed your plan, continue to monitor, assess and manage risks throughout the planning of the event, and during the event itself.

Reputational risk or the public perception of event risk is an important consideration, in addition to operational or public safety risks. Engage your communications team and organisational executives to consider communications risk or reporting requirements.

Event organisers may wish to consider whether publicising or making an event publicly known in advance is necessary, as this may enable protest groups to plan action ahead of time.

Staff members - official events

When attending an official event, as part of your workplace role, and you have any concerns relating to your safety, raise your concerns with your parliamentarian so it can be assessed as part of the risk management strategy of the event.

Staff members are encouraged to discuss a plan with their parliamentarian in advance of each event, so respective roles and responsibilities are clear in the event a protest occurs. 

For further advice Ministerial and Parliamentary Service (MaPS)

HR Advice and Support

Phone: +612 6215 3333 Email: hr@pwss.gov.au

Workplace health and safety

Phone: 1800 747 977 Email: whs@pwss.gov.au

Planning Electoral events

Contact SPDL for security advice prior to the event as part of the risk management. Depending on the risks identified, SPDL may liaise with AFP’s Protection Assessment Teams and state and territory police as part of the risk management plan.

Information to supply SPDL

• Location, and venue
• Date and times
• Expected size of event
• People attending, VIPS, guest lists, is the event open or ticketed  
• What the event is about, purpose of event
• How is the event being advertised
• Current Electoral office concerns - persons of interest or groups
• Point of contact for the event/electoral office.

Assessing risk can be done in conjunction with SPDL.

Maintain Situational Awareness

Passions can run high at protests, and it is important to remain situationally aware of signs of escalations that may interfere with a peaceful protest. 

Ministerial staff

As parliamentarians, you have a unique role in Australia, serving the government, the parliament and the Australian people.  Ensure the rally or protest you are attending is lawful.

Speak with SPDL about your intentions to attend the event as a speaker, who can discuss risk mitigation options for your safety. 

Before undertaking government travel, parliamentarians should familiarise themselves with the risk management section of the government travel policy. We recommend researching the destination you are travelling to and be aware of any safety and security risks that might exist during your trip. Risks exist for both domestic and overseas travel.

The use of DPS managed electronic devices while travelling overseas, presents a real and ongoing cyber risk to the parliamentary computing network. Compromised electronic devices could potentially impact the operation and security of parliamentary business.

If you are travelling overseas, before you leave you must complete the Overseas Travel Notification Form provided by DPS 

Please note that controls are in place to protect parliament computing network systems. If you travel overseas without notifying DPS, this may affect the functionality of your device while you travel.

If you are a Security Clearance holder you must advise AGSVA of your Change of Circumstance through the myClearance Portal 

Domestic travel: parliamentarians are encouraged to be aware of any national public security threats, severe weather warnings, planned public demonstrations, areas of potential crime hotspots and other events and circumstances that might affect their trip, and be prepared to change their travel plans accordingly.

International travel: can carry a heightened security risk, and as a result, threats to personal safety and security can vary and evolve rapidly. Advice should be sought from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Before you go

• Familiarise yourself with the risk management section of the government travel policy
• Familiarise yourself with the Government’s Protective Data Security Standards
• Understand the basics of the political and security situation
• Familiarise yourself with the destination, including:
  • any dangerous areas of a city
  • types of crimes
  • risky modes of transport
  • specific precautions for travellers
  • any behaviour that may offend or break the law.
• Research the health situation and services available for your destination.

While you're away

• Exercise extreme caution
• Follow the advice of your personal protection service
• Don’t disclose the location of your accommodation, hotel or room numbers to unknown persons
• Regularly vary your routine and the routes you take to get a coffee or lunch
• Be observant and aware of people who appear suspicious and/or try to distract you. If possible, keep a safe distance and call for assistance if necessary
• Do not discuss your work in a public place
• Be aware of religious holidays or days of national significance
• Plan your daily movements and vary your routines and travel routes
• Avoid known flashpoints, including protest areas
• Don't wander into unknown areas
• Avoid or minimise your time at places that terrorists may target
• Leave an area at the first sign of unrest or if you feel uneasy
• Be aware of building exits and always know the safe places you can access if you feel threatened
• Take notice of the people around you and their behaviour. Be aware that you may misinterpret some behaviour in an unfamiliar cultural setting
• When discussing your plans, avoid sharing details that others may overhear
• Be cautious about the information you share on social media
• Refuse unexpected packages or offers.

When undertaking official travel you could be a target for espionage activity.

Foreign powers may target parliamentarians to meet specific intelligence priorities or may target travellers opportunistically. It’s important to report any suspicious, ongoing, unusual or persistent approaches as it will ensure the AFP has a clear picture of potential espionage activity that may harm Australian interests.

Please remember the information you provide (no matter how small) may be the missing piece of the puzzle.

Foreign Intelligence Services will use a range of methods to gain access to information, before, during and after travel including by:

• Exploiting travel data and official documents, including visa, passport or manifest information
• Exploiting open-source information including social media
• Eliciting information
• Co-opting local services that travellers rely on
• Eavesdropping or covertly observing or recording conversations
• Conducting physical, audio or video surveillance
• Exploiting personal vulnerabilities or compromising situations, including blackmail
• Searching belongings or baggage when unattended, including in transit or at hotels
• Conducting covert influence operations
• Stealing unattended papers or devices
• Conducting technical operations or intercepting personal electronic devices, including at charging points
• Compromising internet connections, including hotel wi-fi
• Attempting further contacts on return, including sending unsolicited emails with malicious content
• Giving gifts—either embedded with malicious content, or legitimate gifts or inducements intended to encourage reciprocity or ongoing contact.

• Avoid travelling with classified or sensitive materials where possible and, where unavoidable, store materials only in appropriate storage facilities with appropriate access controls
• Understand that no hotel room is secure—including hotel safes—even if a technical inspection is carried out
• Maintain positive control of your electronic devices and assets – do not leave them unattended in spaces where others could access them
• Only have sensitive or classified conversations in secure rooms, or via secure communications channels
• Understand that conversations in aircraft, vehicles of all types, hotel rooms, lifts, conference rooms, restaurants and outdoor areas—including hotel balconies—may be recorded or overheard
• Do not pack sensitive or classified documents and electronic devices in checked luggage
• Understand that internet connections of any kind—including mobile data services, as well as wi-fi at hotels, cafes and airports—are not secure
• Where possible avoid using charging devices from USB sockets provided in hotels, airports, vehicles or conference venues
• Be conscious of suspicious or out of the ordinary approaches by unknown persons - in identifying potential sources, Foreign Intelligence Services may orchestrate an approach at a common location e.g. hotel or airport and ask carefully crafted questions to get a sense of whether an individual will be of value to them or has vulnerabilities that can be exploited
• Be alert to questioning—even by seemingly benign individuals such as guides, drivers or hotel staff.

Be alert to contact that may occur after the travel/deployment has concluded, and do not provide any personal contact details to anyone you may have met whilst travelling/deployed. 

• Trim shrubbery to avoid providing a potential threat with places to hide and to increase natural surveillance of the front of your home
• Consider installing a CCTV and visitor-monitor system with key coverage of entry points and the path to your vehicle. CCTV systems should have a battery backup capability and provide you with a discreet method of screening visitors away from the entry door
• Consider installing a security alarm system including duress points and contact reed switches on entry points. The alarm system should feature a perimeter arming mode where reed switches on perimeter doors and windows can be armed when residents are at home and not expecting company (typically after-hours or when asleep)
• Use spot and flood lighting activated by a passive infrared sensor covering key approaches to the property and entry points
• Ensure your electrical switchboard has a lock and is approved by utility provider
• Entry doors should ideally be of solid core timber construction/hardened door frames with a deadbolt
• Fit a pad bolt to the manhole or other access point into a ceiling cavity
• Key lock windows at all times and leave timber dowels in sliding window tracks
• Consider installing security screens over perimeter doors/accessible windows as a more cost-effective method than replacing perimeter doors
• Consider installing security screens over any window panes adjacent to doors that would allow an intruder to break the glass, reach around and unlock door
• Allocate a room as a safe room – consider replacing door and door frame with solid core door/ hardened frame with deadbolt. When selecting a room be mindful of windows that are accessible from the outside.

• Never leave spare keys outside your home, these are often easily found in predictable locations
• Don’t have personal details such as your name, address and telephone number on your keys
• If you lose your keys or move into a new home make sure you change the locks
• If someone contacts you saying they have found your keys ask them to drop them off at the nearest police station.

• Make sure you keep all gates locked. The rear and sides of homes are often targeted by thieves
• Always lock tools, ladders and garden equipment away so these items cannot be used to gain entry to your home.

What is YOUR digital footprint? For all personal and family accounts:

• Lockdown all social media security and privacy settings
• Only engage with ‘friends’ you have met in person; do not accept unsolicited messages or links 
• Refrain from including images of your house, children’s school (first day at school photo)
• Ask family and friends to not tag you in social media
• Tell family not to post locations or upcoming plans, avoid advertising planned holidays
• Do not post anything that creates a predictable pattern
• Change passwords regularly and have different passwords for each account
• Suppress your online data. LinkedIn is actively targeted by foreign intelligence services
• Facebook tracks your ‘off Facebook’ online activity
• Keep an eye out for cyber attackers using enticement, fear, uncertainty, doubt and urgency in their engagements with you
• Stop and consider any links you have been sent – even from senders you recognise. A hacker could be impersonating someone you know
• Be mindful of attempts over the phone to obtain your information or details
• Always hang up on illegal robot calls
• Put your phone number on the do not call register
• Do not give personal or financial details – even if they say they have the information and just need you to confirm it.

Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

Spear phishing is the the fraudulent practice of sending emails supposedly from a known or trusted sender in order to induce targeted individuals to reveal confidential information

Vishing is just one form of phishing, which is any type of message — such as an email, text, phone call or direct-chat message — that appears to be from a trusted source, but isn’t. The goal is to steal someone’s identity or money.

Tabnabbing is a computer exploit and phishing attack, which persuades users to submit their login details and passwords to popular websites by impersonating those sites and convincing the user that the site is genuine. The attack takes advantage of user trust and inattention to detail in regard to tabs, and the ability of browsers to navigate across a page’s origin in inactive tabs a long time after the page is loaded.

Baiting is like the real-world ‘trojan horse’. It uses physical media and relies on the curiosity or greed of the victim. It’s in many ways similar to phishing attacks. However, what distinguishes them from other types of social engineering is the promise of an item or good that hackers use to entice victims.

Pretexting is a method of inventing a scenario to convince victims to divulge information they should not divulge. Pretexting is often used against corporations that retain client data, such as banks, credit card companies, utilities, and the transportation industry.

Tailgating is a physical rather than virtual cyber attack where an unauthorised person gains access to usually restricted areas of an organisation or a building with a view to executing a physical or cyber crime to cause a data breach and steal confidential information, equipment as well as personal belongings.

Other terms used

Smishing is the act of using SMS text messaging to lure victims into a specific course of action. Like phishing it can be clicking on a malicious link or divulging information.

Pharming is a cyberattack intended to redirect a website’s traffic to another, fake site. Pharming can be conducted either by changing the hosts file on a victim’s computer or by exploitation of a vulnerability in DNS server software. DNS servers are computers responsible for resolving internet names into their real IP addresses. Compromised DNS servers are sometimes referred to as “poisoned”. Pharming requires unprotected access to target a computer, such as altering a customer’s home computer, rather than a corporate business server.

Whaling is a specific kind of malicious hacking within the more general category of phishing, which involves hunting for data that can be used by the hacker. In general, phishing efforts are focused on collecting personal data about users

Be aware of your surroundings at mobile offices and pop-up events by being situationally aware.

Situational awareness is the ability to understand what is happening around you at any given moment. This understanding helps you make decisions and assess potential risks to your safety and the safety of others.

Situational Awareness consists of three levels: 

• 1.    Perception: This involves noticing information from your surroundings, such as the behaviour of people, other vehicles, the terrain, and objects around you.
• 2.    Comprehension: This is about processing the information to understand its relevance. It involves identifying what seems out of place or stands out and determining what actions you should take.
• 3.    Prediction: This level requires practice and involves combining perception and comprehension to foresee likely outcomes. It is the ability to predict whether a situation poses a threat or not.

Trust and act on your instincts

Trust your instincts. If you pick up a bad feeling from someone, or if you feel a sense of threat or danger, trust your instincts and remove yourself.

People aren’t suspicious, behaviours are… 

• Unusual or concealed items, including cameras
• Persons taking an unusual interest in security settings of the venue or campaign
• Odd, nervous, unsettling, aggressive or erratic behaviour 
• Unattended items.

Behaviours which may indicate potential danger  

• Blocking movement 
• Posture poised to strike or lunge  
• Positioning themselves in a threatening or defensive manner 
• Personal space violations 
• Unauthorised attempts to enter a restricted area 
• Attempts to avoid security personnel 
• Abandoning objects or packages 
• Threats or overly aggressive behaviour 
• Darting eyes, clenched jaw 
• Quick, unexpected shift to silence or disengagement 
• Enlarged posture 
• Hidden, raised, or flailing hands 
• Erratic, incongruous, or incoherent speech.

Call 000 in an emergency.
 

De-escalation involves using communication or other techniques to stabilise, slow down, or reduce the intensity of a potentially violent situation. Your goal is not to stop the person from being angry, but to help them feel calmer and de-escalate the confrontation to stay safe.

Key Points to Remember

• Stay calm when you notice signs of anger or verbal aggression
• Understand that anger may indicate the person is in distress, experiencing fear, or frustration
• It is not possible to reason or solve problems with someone who is enraged
• Effective communication skills are essential for settling and de-escalating a situation
• Maintain a safe distance. This means keeping enough space between yourself and others to react quickly if needed.

Body Language Tips

• Maintain a safe distance and remain as calm as possible
• Use appropriate eye contact and acknowledgment to demonstrate you are listening.

Verbal Communication Tips

• Use assertive, empathetic, and honest communication to show respect and help calm conflicts
• Remain calm if confronted and appear confident, not authoritarian or arrogant
• Listen and respond empathetically and know when to remove yourself for safety.

Practice de-escalation communication techniques with colleagues before an event.

Body language

• Instead of trying to smile to defuse anger, maintain a neutral and attentive facial expression
• Instead of standing rigid in front, stand off to the side of the person with a relaxed and alert stance
• Instead of concealing or crossing your arms, keep your hands down, open, and visible.

Verbal Language

• Instead of saying "Calm Down," try saying "I can see you're upset..."
• Instead of saying "I can't help you," try saying "I want to help, what can I do…?”
• Instead of saying "I know how you feel," try saying "I understand that you feel...".

Additional Techniques

• Slow down. The primary goal of de-escalation is to stabilise, slow, and reduce the intensity of the situation, not to achieve a quick resolution
• Appear kind and respectful. Keep a low decibel, even, kind, and respectful tone. Never escalate tone or body language
• Ask questions. Keep the focus on simple, open-ended questions for as long as possible to slow the interaction
• Don't debate. You may disagree, but don't get into a dispute. Instead, listen and ask questions
• Respect your limits. De-escalation is hard. If the interaction is too challenging and you feel you cannot be calm or effective, call in help from a supervisor or team member. If it escalates further, consider options to remove yourself for safety and call the police
• Reporting. We encourage you to report any situation in which de-escalation is required. Even though such incidents may not constitute an offence, it’s important for police awareness and monitoring of the security environment.

Walking to Events

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when using headphones or speaking on your phone
• Consider removing or covering campaign identifiers or clothing when walking alone
• If strangers approach you, trust your instincts and remove yourself if you feel unsafe
• Carry a charged mobile phone
• Avoid areas where you don’t feel safe, such as shortcuts through parks, vacant land, or dark areas
• Walk in the opposite direction to traffic
• Use busy, well-lit streets whenever possible.

Working Early or Leaving Late

• If you arrive or leave work in darkness or feel unsafe:
  • Walk with a group or ask a colleague or security guard to walk you to your car
  • Arrange a lift with a family member, friend, or colleague, or join a carpool
  • Park in a populated, well-lit area close to your workplace
  • Stick to well-lit, populated routes and avoid shortcuts through dark or isolated areas
  • Inform someone if you are working late and let them know when you expect to be home
  • Check the live feed from security cameras at your office exit before leaving to ensure the area is clear.

Parking General Advice

• Park in well-lit areas as close as possible to your destination
• Lock your car whenever you leave it and remove or hide any valuables
• Check your vehicle is secure and be wary of people loitering nearby
• Avoid remaining seated in your parked vehicle on your mobile phone for extended periods. Observe your surroundings before exiting
• Keep your keys on your person instead of inside your bag for easy access
• Have your key ready when you return to your car and check the vehicle (including the back seat) before entering.

Driving general advice

• Consider campaign slogans and political stickers on vehicles may attract unwanted attention and make you readily identifiable
• Keep doors locked and valuables out of sight
• Plan your route, stay on main roads, and inform someone of your travel plans if going to isolated areas, with your estimated time of arrival
• If followed or encountering an aggressive motorist, drive to a populated area for assistance
• If a passing motorist signals you to stop, continue to a populated area before checking your vehicle. Stay in the car with doors locked and engine running if you need to talk to a stranger. Drive away if you feel threatened
• If someone gets into your car, attract attention by using the horn, hazard lights, or stopping in a visible area
• Ensure your car is in good condition with sufficient oil, petrol, water, and tyre tread
• Consider an emergency safety kit with essentials like a pen, torch, note paper, portable phone charger, spare change, contact numbers, and a breakdown service.

Public transport general advice

• Be mindful when taking public transport
• Avoid unnecessary waiting and plan your travel using public transport websites or apps
• Wait in well-lit areas near other people where you feel safe
• If you feel your safety is threatened by a fellow passenger, some options to consider: 
  • Respond assertively, e.g. ‘Leave me alone, or I will report you’
  • Move away to safety
  • Seek help from other passengers by asking specific people for assistance rather than making a general call for help 
  • Activate an emergency button or use an emergency phone, if available
  • Report the incident to the bus driver, train guard, police or to the transport company.
• When leaving public transport, be alert to who gets off with you
• Be alert to who gets off with you and have a plan to get to your car or home
• Sit where you feel most comfortable and safe. If the train is empty or nearly empty, consider sitting near the guard or driver.

Taxis/ride sharing general advice

• Private Transport: be mindful of your personal data when using private transport services like Uber, your location, time, and personal details (name, phone number, destination) are recorded.
• Secure Taxi Rank: If possible, catch a taxi from a secure rank.
• Comfort: Don't get into a taxi or ride-sharing vehicle if the driver makes you uncomfortable. You have the right to choose another vehicle.
• Taxis: Note the taxi company and fleet number (displayed on the inside front windscreen or the left and right guards).
• Ride Sharing: Ensure the vehicle registration matches the one on the app.
• Seating: Sit where you feel most comfortable and safe. The left rear seat, diagonally opposite the driver, is recommended.
• Route: Specify your preferred route. Speak up if the driver deviates from it. Ride-sharing apps display the best route on a map.
• Alertness: Stay aware of your surroundings and avoid sharing personal information with the driver. Inform the driver if the conversation is inappropriate.
• Drop-off: You can ask to be dropped a few houses away if you're uncomfortable with the driver knowing your address.
• Safety Threats: If the driver threatens your safety, ask them to stop. Make up an excuse if necessary and leave when the vehicle stops.
• Driver Refusal: If the driver refuses to stop:
  • Read out the fleet number (in taxis) and warn the driver you will report them
  • Call out to someone on the street for help
  • Use in-app safety features for ride sharing
  • Call 000 in an emergency.

Key risk factors and considerations for official events and activities

When planning official events and activities, it's important to consider the following security factors:

• Is the event or activity widely known in advance?
• Is it advertised?
• Is it publicly accessible?
• Have you considered accreditation checks for designated areas that are restricted?
• Will the parliamentarian be stationary for extended periods?
• Is the event taking place in a crowded location, such as a stadium or general seating area?
• Are there any concerns or gaps in the known security arrangements at the venue?
• Could the nature of the event or activity be considered controversial by some community groups?
• Are there any general or specific concerns regarding the event or activity?

For activities where security risks are identified, parliamentarians are encouraged to seek further advice with police.

Risk Identified

Engaging with police will ensure that appropriate measures are taken to mitigate any potential threats and maintain a safe environment for all involved.

Assessment of movements and events

• AFP Specialist Protective Command (SPC) Protection Assessment Team (PAT) assess aspects of federal parliamentarians’ movements and events, where security concerns or potential risk factors have been identified
• Providing the AFP with diary information relating to official events, movements or activities of concern, enables ‘real-time’ assessment of risk factors, which may impact the parliamentarian’s safety and security.

Parliamentarians should consider assessing how predictable their personal routines are. This may include what information is publicly accessible which may aid in threat action planning.

• Do you have a regular route to the office and home?
• Do you regularly go to the same cafe, or restaurant, on the same day of week, or time?
• Who has access to your calendar of events and schedules.
• Where are your diaries kept?
• Have you posted online where you are located, or plan to be?

Parliamentarians may be subject to online abuse including harassment and intimidation for reasons including:

• To provoke a reaction or cause distress.
• Disagreement with your views or actions, prompting a backlash or criticism.
• Attempts to silence or intimidate you by threats of violence, cyberbullying or online stalking.
• Your success or prominence evoking jealousy or resentment leading to derogatory remarks or attempts to damage your character or reputation.
• Becoming a target of online abuse based on misinformation, stereotypes, or prejudices.
• You are subjected to online abuse as a form of retaliation or revenge, especially if involved in controversial or contentious issues.
• Online threats or intimidation are conducted or sponsored by state-backed actors.

Online anonymity can embolden individuals to engage in abusive behaviour that they may not exhibit in face-to-face interactions. 

The distance and perceived anonymity of the internet can lead to increased levels of aggression or hostility. Abuse can have serious consequences, including psychological harm, reputational damage, and threats to personal safety.

If online abuse is happening to you

• Do not reply to any abusive messages
• Document abuse and keep offensive emails, messages and posts as evidence
• Block the abuser's social media, email and instant messaging accounts, as appropriate
• Report the abuser to your internet service provider (ISP), mobile phone provider and/or the social media site as applicable
• Report serious abuse, such as threats of physical harm or persistent harassment, to the police
• If you receive threats or intimidation from individuals or groups associated with extremist ideologies or terrorist organisations, it is important to report this information to SPDL or the National Security Hotline1800 123 400
• If there is a threat of imminent violence or threat to life call000 immediately.

The behaviours may not warrant the threshold of criminal charges, but it is important that SPDL are aware of any patterns and trends that may escalate over time, to assess your safety.  

See Cyber Security section for more information on how to stay secure online.

Parliamentarians may draw the attention of unwanted fixated behaviour from persons of interest due to the public nature of their work.

Fixation refers to an individual with an obsessive preoccupation with a person or a cause pursued to an excessive or irrational degree.

Behaviour arising from fixation often initially manifests through activities such as persistent letter writing, phone calls, gifts or in-person approaches.

Reportable behaviours

• excessive phone calls or text messages
• repeated unwanted contact in any form
• messages left on social media sites
• unexplained accesses to your social media accounts
• notes left on your car
• strange or unwanted gifts sent to your office or home
• an awareness that you are being followed
• repeatedly observing the same person in your proximity
• being continually stared at or gestured to by the same person
• someone being aware of your conversations, activities or movements for no legitimate reason.

If suspected, maintain records of concerning behaviours and report all matters to SPDL. The behaviours may not warrant the threshold of criminal charges, but it is important that SPDL are aware of any patterns and trends that may escalate over time, to assess your safety.

If you believe you are in immediate danger or being actively targeted by stalking or hostile behaviour, contact the police immediately by calling 000. State you are a high-risk individual and why. Provide them with all the information you have gathered and follow their instructions.

Reporting incidents throughout the election period is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the democratic process. We need your help and encourage all parliamentarians to report incidents to the police, so we can determine if the threats meet a criminal threshold. Even if matters do not meet the threshold, it is important for the police to understand all threats and incidents to better assess changes in the environment. This not only helps in maintaining the safety of individuals but also safeguards democracy more broadly.

Behaviours and threats that impede Australia's democratic process will not be tolerated, particularly those that involve harassment or intimidation directed towards candidates. By fostering a culture of accountability and vigilance, we can ensure that the election period remains fair and free from undue influence.

If you spot a possible threat or something that stands out, when it is safe to do so record:

• What did you see?
• Where did it happen?
• When did it happen, day and time?
• Why did it stand out to you?
• Who was involved?
• Who else was around?
• Any other defining characteristics about the event in your own words.

For enduring or specific security concerns, SPDL provide a 24/7 discreet police point of contact for advice and assistance.