Threats to Australian federal parliamentarians reported to the AFP have increased significantly in the past financial year.
In 2023-24, the AFP received 1009 reports of incidents involving harassment, nuisance, offensive and threatening communications. This is a 42 percent increase from the 709 matters reported to the AFP during the same period the previous year (2022-23).
In recent years, the AFP has charged several people with offences relating to individuals making threats to parliamentarians as part of investigations across the country, including in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. While in South Australia, a man faced court today (Wednesday, 18 December, 2024), in relation to alleged menacing offences against Commonwealth officials.
AFP Commander Stephen Fry said the AFP had zero tolerance for threats or violence towards parliamentarians and the AFP worked closely with state law enforcement agencies to investigate such threats.
"We take seriously all reports regarding the safety and security of federal parliamentarians and people who work with them," Commander Fry said.
"A threat of harm or violence against a federal parliamentarian is a criminal offence."
The AFP's Specialist Protective Command (SPC) comprises of multiple teams and capabilities working together to safeguard federal parliamentarians and high office holders. This includes highly visible uniformed security at places like Parliament House in Canberra and other official establishments.
The AFP utilises various capabilities in delivering protective services, such as Protective Service Officers (PSOs), Close Personal Protection, Security Protection and Diplomatic Liaison, and other AFP specialist resources including Tactical Response, Canine Support, Bomb Response and Maritime Operations.
SPC uses intelligence-led threat, risk and vulnerability-based assessments to deliver a protective security overlay for federal parliamentarians. In the 2023-24 financial year, SPC assessed about 20,000 individual movements of Commonwealth protected persons and provided support for more than 3600 events, including at protests across Australia.
In support of state and territory police, foreign law enforcement and other Commonwealth agencies, the AFP also provided protection at a series of major events throughout 2024. This included the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Special Summit, the official Royal visit by His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the Paris Olympics and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
"The AFP is committed to providing protective services to Australian and foreign dignitaries, and to internationally protected people, to ensure they are able to discharge their duties without fear or harm," Commander Fry said.
"I would like to thank our members for their incredible work, which they undertake 24/7, all year round."
