AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett Issues Strong Warning to Threats Against Australia

Newly appointed Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett has begun her tenure with a firm warning to individuals, groups, or state actors seeking to intimidate or destabilise the community: “We will be taking action.”

Barrett, the first woman to lead the AFP, said her leadership will focus on protecting social cohesion and defending Australia from both domestic and global security threats. “States are using criminal proxies to destabilise adversaries,” she said. “Most of our work now and in the future will be to deter, disrupt, and respond to active threats, whether overt or covert.”

Barrett emphasised that anyone attempting to disrupt Australian democracy or sow fear in communities is “on notice.” She added that the AFP will concentrate on crimes affecting sovereignty, democracy, social cohesion, financial systems, and national prosperity.

State Actors and Organised Crime

One of Barrett’s first actions as commissioner has been to establish national security investigation teams with access to intelligence from the Five Eyes alliance, which includes the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand. She highlighted the importance of this intelligence in countering state-sponsored disruption.

Barrett noted a growing overlap between organised crime and state actors. “State actors are increasingly using organised crime networks to carry out attacks,” she said. She vowed to target a known organised crime figure connected to illegal tobacco and implicated in the Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing, describing him as a “national security threat.”

The federal government and ASIO have attributed the attack to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), leading to the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador and proposed amendments to terrorism laws to designate foreign state entities as “state sponsors of terrorism.”

Impact of Global Conflicts on Domestic Threats

Barrett linked the rise in politically motivated violence and antisemitism to international events, including the war in Gaza and conflicts in Ukraine. Threats against politicians have doubled, and reports of discrimination against Jewish and Muslim communities have increased significantly. She noted that extremist ideologies abroad are reverberating on Australian streets, including during anti-migration protests involving far-right groups.

Youth Radicalisation and Social Media

Barrett welcomed new legislation restricting social media access for under-16s, aimed at curbing youth radicalisation. She acknowledged the challenges the AFP faces in deradicalising vulnerable youth but expressed confidence in officers’ abilities. “Our investigators balance heavy risks every day on behalf of this country,” she said. She encouraged parents to stay alert to behavioural changes and to contact the AFP if concerns arise.