Copyright dailymail
Australia's new anti-hate police taskforce launched: Who they will be coming for AFP has new social cohesion taskforce Group slammed for not addressing root causes READ MORE: Majority of Aussies demand a FREEZE on migration By NICHOLAS COMINO, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 05:35 BST, 23 October 2025 | Updated: 06:46 BST, 23 October 2025 Australia's new anti-hate police taskforce has launched and they could be coming for those targeting politicians online. The Australian Federal Police has rolled out powerful new National Security Investigation Teams in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra - part of a major crackdown on people accused of spreading hate, fear and division, including individuals who have targeted federal parliamentarians. The elite squads, which began operating in September, fall under the AFP's powerful Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command. Their mission is to identify and disrupt threats to Australia's social fabric before they escalate into violence or unrest, targeting groups and individuals causing significant harm to national cohesion. 'These new teams will ensure a nationally coordinated, consistent and intelligence-led response to emerging threats,' the AFP said in a statement. 'We will work closely with state and territory police, as well as international partners, to prevent escalation and protect our communities.' Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the AFP has a duty to act against groups eroding the country's social fabric. 'Some of these groups have already engaged in vandalism, destruction of property and the targeting of businesses based on race or religion,' she said. 'While many of these crimes may not meet the threshold of terrorism, the AFP has identified concerning behaviours which could escalate to politically motivated violence or hate crimes. The AFP are aiming to target groups and individuals threatening Australia's social fabric (file) Be the first to commentBe one of the first to commentComments Has online hate in Australia gotten worse in recent years? Comment now 'Recognising these groups plan their acts and radicalise others online, the AFP will work with trusted partners to innovate and adopt new technologies to detect violent extremist material and decode criminal language used in attempts to avoid detection. 'By setting up dedicated teams… first and foremost, we are calling out clearly to any individuals or groups who are partaking in or driving this type of behaviour, where it gets to a point that it is criminal, they are on notice.' The AFP will use its specialised capabilities and legislative powers, including electronic surveillance, to collect intelligence on criminal networks operating in the online environment. '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,' Commissioner Barrett said.' However, Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said the government's own policies are driving the divisions the AFP is now investigating, particularly its handling of migration. 'If the Government truly cared about 'social cohesion', it would deliver on its promises. 'The PM promised to 'halve' migration. He is nowhere near delivering that.' Matt Canavan slammed the government's approach to handling escalating social unrest The taskforce follows a rise in protest action, including violent clashes between groups (file) Canavan argued that surging migration levels since 2022, combined with rising housing costs and pressure on public services, are fuelling resentment and eroding trust in government. 'The best thing the political class could do to silence and ostracise extreme right-wing views would be to solve the problems that the people are complaining about,' he said. He warned that dismissing legitimate public frustrations risks emboldening fringe movements,eferencing the March for Australia rallies earlier this year where neo-Nazi members appeared among protest speakers. 'When politicians dismiss the legitimate complaints of people by labelling them as bigots, they give oxygen to the more extreme views that hijacked some of the protests,' he said. 'Last time I checked, Australians had the right to hate their own government. 'The government controls the borders. We saw during COVID-19 that we can reduce the migration rate to zero if we want.' According to a recent poll by the Institute of Public Affairs, 60 per cent of Australians believe migration levels are too high. Meanwhile, 67 per cent agree that mass migration is making the country more divided. MelbourneSydney Share or comment on this article: Australia's new anti-hate police taskforce launched: Who they will be coming for Add comment
