Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said a team of so-called “hate disruptors” will be expanded nationwide as authorities seek to “lower the threshold for hate speech” following last week’s shooting at Bondi Beach.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Barrett argued that “hate speech” and the “weaponization of words” can have “serious national security consequences.” She pointed specifically to antisemitic incidents, noting that the Australian Federal Police launched Operation Avalite one year ago to investigate antisemitism and currently has 161 active investigations, with 10 individuals charged.
Barrett said the AFP created new National Security Investigations teams to address “harm” to the country’s “social cohesion.”
“When I became Commissioner in October, I was so concerned about Australia's degrading security environment that I announced the formation of the 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 disruptors who focus on high harm, high impact, politically motivated violence, communal violence and hate crimes that don't meet the threshold for terrorism investigations, but that we know drive fear and division,” Barrett said.
She said the teams are designed to intervene before incidents escalate into violence.
“This is all about stopping hate and division earlier and well before it leads to violence,” she explained. “So far this crack squad has charged 14 individuals across 13 investigations. And of those, four individuals across four operations were charged for offences relating to antisemitism.”
Barrett added that the teams were responsible for a recent week-long nationwide operation targeting the distribution and display of prohibited symbols, as well as charging a passenger accused of threatening violence against a member of the Jewish community on a flight from Bali to Sydney.
“The announcement today to boost the numbers of our hate disruptors as well as planned changes to lower the threshold for hate speech will make it easier for the AFP to take action quicker. It could be the difference between us just knocking on a door to warn an individual, to an individual being placed in handcuffs,” she concluded.
Australia has been vocal about its push for stronger hate speech laws and gun control following the shooting at Bondi Beach, which took place during a Hanukkah celebration. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a national gun buyback program and proposed new laws to crack down on speech deemed hateful. During the press conference, he said the government wants to make sure that the “laws are got right,” but acknowledged that there are “issues of free speech involved in this as well.”
“We want to make sure that these laws don't get passed and then get knocked over,” the prime minister said.
