AFP have launched an education campaign to combat foreign interference in Australian CALD communities. Source Bidgee/Wikimedia
As fears grow of potential crimes being unreported, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) are launching a new grassroots education campaign to spread awareness of foreign interferences in multicultural community groups across Australia.
Earlier this month, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and ASIO boss Mike Burgess made public warnings that multiple countries were attempting to influence Australian politics and intimidate political opponents in some community groups.
AFP community liaison teams will meet with culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) groups and religious leaders across Australia to discuss what foreign interference is, and where communities can find help if they believe they are the target of such interference.
According to the AFP, foreign governments may target communities for many reasons, including to:
- Silence criticism of the foreign government’s polices
- Monitor the activities, including online, of CALD group members
- Promote the views and policies of a foreign government
- Obtain information for the benefit of a foreign government
- Influence the views and opinions of the broader population in Australia
The AFP have created a factsheet, to be translated into over 30 languages, about the topic and urging individuals to contact the National Security Hotline if “they believe they are the victim of, or have witnessed, foreign interference in Australia.”
AFP Special Investigations Commander Stephen Nutt said that the AFP have worked closely with other agencies, such as ASIO, as a member of the Counter Foreign Interference Task Force to identify and counter foreign interference within Australian shores.
“Foreign interference represents a serious threat to Australian communities, sovereignty and security,” Commander Nutt said.
“Threats of foreign interference are not constrained to one sector of the Australian community nor perpetrated by a single nation state.
“Foreign state actors that undertake hostile activity against other countries are creating and pursuing opportunities to interfere with Australians – from decision-makers at all levels of government, across a range of sectors, and our communities.”
Commander Nutt noted the importance for people to know that foreign influence was a crime in Australia, and individuals should understand how to recognise and report it.
“On a community level, foreign interference is defined as threats and intimidation directed, supervised or financed by foreign governments and targeted towards CALD communities in order to cause harm and impact on Australia’s multicultural way of life.”
The National Security Hotline — 1800 123 400 — operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It accepts anonymous callers, and operators know what to do with information provided and can pass it on to the appropriate authorities.
The AFP’s full media release can be read here.
Last week, the AFP foiled an alledged drug smuggler who attempted to carry more than 120 cocaine filled capsules, that she had ingested, through Perth.
