BY AFP COMMISSIONER KRISSY BARRETT
CANBERRA, ACT. — Good morning.
Hate speech and the weaponisation of words can have serious national security consequences.
History has taught us, and recent events have reinforced, that hatred creates a permissive environment that can lead to violent extremism and terrorism.
There are groups and individuals across Australia who are eroding the country’s social fabric by advocating hatred, fear, and humiliation.
And I am not going to mince words – too much of this is directed at the Jewish community.
A year ago, the AFP set up Operation Avalite to investigate antisemitism because of rising concerns and threats.
The AFP has 21 current Avalite investigations and 10 individuals have already been charged – it is just unbelievable – as a country, we should reflect on those statistics.
When I became Commissioner in October, I was so concerned about Australia’s degrading security environment that I announced the formation of new National Security Investigations teams to target groups and individuals causing high harm to our social cohesion.
Essentially, the National Security Investigations Teams are a flying squad of hate disrupters who focus on high-harm, high-impact politically motivated violence, communal violence and hate crimes that do not meet the threshold for terrorism investigations but drive fear and division.
This is all about stopping hate and division earlier – and well before it leads to violence.
So far, this crack squad has charged 14 individuals across 13 investigations. Of those four individuals across four operations were charged for offences relating to antisemitism.
They were responsible for a recent week-long national blitz on the distribution and display of prohibited symbols, and for charging a passenger who this week allegedly threatened violence towards a member of the Jewish community on a flight from Bali to Sydney.
The announcement today to boost the numbers of our hate disrupters, as well as planned changes to lower the threshold for hate speech, will make it easier for the AFP to take action quickly.
It could be the difference between just knocking on a door to warn an individual to an individual being placed in handcuffs.
Finally, if I could make these observations. As funerals for the Bondi Beach victims continue, I offer my sincere condolences on behalf of the AFP.
Thank you.
