Threats made against federal politicians rise by 42 per cent, AFP finds

There has been a 42 per cent increase in the number of threats against federal politicians, according to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The AFP received 1009 reports of incidents involving harassment, nuisance, offensive and threatening communications in the latest 2023-24 financial year, compared to 709 from the previous year.

Several people across the country have been charged in recent years for allegedly threatening parliamentarians.

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Most recently, a 45-year-old South Australian man faced Adelaide Magistrates Court for allegedly sending harassing emails to politicians.

He had been charged with alleged menacing offences against Commonwealth employees.

AFP Commander Stephen Fry said there was "zero tolerance" for threats or violence against politicians.

"We take seriously all reports regarding the safety and security of federal parliamentarians and people who work with them," he said.

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"A threat of harm or violence against a federal parliamentarian is a criminal offence."

The AFP has several teams that work to safeguard federal politicians and high office holders, including through uniformed security at official establishments like Parliament House in Canberra.

Those teams assessed about 20,000 individual movements of protected personnel, including King Charles and Queen Camilla's royal visit to Australia in October, and supported 3600 events, including protests.

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