The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has launched new National Security Investigations (NSI) teams in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra to target individuals and groups causing “high levels of harm” to Australia’s social fabric — including those targeting federal parliamentarians.
Operating under the AFP’s Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command since September, the NSI teams have been tasked with identifying and disrupting threats to social cohesion through a four-pronged strategy focused on coordination, policy, legislation, and policing.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the creation of the NSI teams reflected the growing need to address groups “eroding our country’s social fabric by advocating hatred, fear, and humiliation.”
“There are current and emerging groups who are eroding our country’s social fabric by advocating hatred, fear, and humiliation, and the AFP is putting them on notice,” Commissioner Barrett said.
“Some of these groups have already engaged in vandalism, destruction of property and the targeting of businesses based on race or religion.”
While many of these actions may not meet the legal threshold for terrorism, Barrett warned that the AFP had identified “concerning behaviours which could escalate to politically motivated violence or hate crimes, which seriously put the Australian community at risk.”
The NSI teams will work closely with state and territory police to ensure a nationally coordinated, intelligence-led approach to emerging threats. They will also share critical information with national security and law enforcement partners to deliver what the AFP describes as “the most effective and disruptive policing response.”
Recognising that extremist groups increasingly operate online, the AFP will also strengthen its digital capabilities — using surveillance powers and advanced technologies to detect violent extremist material, decode criminal language, and gather intelligence on networks seeking to evade detection.
Many of the groups under scrutiny are dispersed across Australia and, in some cases, linked to international movements. To counter these, the AFP will use its global partnerships — including within the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group — to coordinate responses and gain insights into transnational threats.
“By collaborating with ASIO and our state and territory police partners, our coordinated disruption activities will be informed by intelligence and targeted at those inciting or preparing to commit violent acts,” Barrett said.
“There is no place for hate or violence in our communities and the AFP will defend and protect Australia and Australia’s future from these threats.”
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