Australia’s top police chief has warned that the “weaponisation of words” is eroding social cohesion and creating conditions that can lead to violent extremism, as federal authorities reveal a sharp rise in antisemitism-related investigations.
Speaking at a media conference on Operation Arques, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said hate speech now posed serious national security consequences, with much of the hostility disproportionately targeting the Jewish community.
“Hate creates a permissive environment that can lead to violent extremism and terrorism,” Commissioner Barrett said, noting that both history and recent events had reinforced the danger of unchecked hatred.
The Australian Federal Police established Operation Avalite a year ago to investigate rising antisemitism and related threats. Since then, the AFP has launched 21 investigations under the operation, with 10 individuals already charged.
“These statistics are unbelievable,” Barrett said.
“As a country, we should reflect on what they say about our social fabric.”
She revealed that upon taking office in October, concerns about Australia’s deteriorating security environment led her to form new National Security Investigations Teams.
Described as a “flying squad of hate disrupters”, the teams target high-harm, high-impact politically motivated violence, communal violence and hate crimes that fall short of the legal threshold for terrorism but still drive fear and division.
The focus, Barrett said, is on intervening earlier — “well before hate leads to violence”.
So far, the specialist teams have charged 14 individuals across 13 investigations. Four of those cases involved antisemitism-related offences. The units were also behind a recent week-long national blitz targeting the distribution and display of prohibited symbols, as well as charges laid against a passenger accused of threatening violence against a Jewish individual on a flight from Bali to Sydney.
The Commissioner said newly announced measures to boost the number of hate disrupters, alongside planned legislative changes to lower the threshold for hate speech offences, would allow police to act more swiftly.
“It could be the difference between knocking on a door to warn someone, and that individual being placed in handcuffs.”
In closing, Barrett acknowledged the ongoing grief following the deadly Bondi Beach attack, offering condolences on behalf of the AFP as funerals for the victims continue.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
