Politics · Australia · 2 hrs ago
AFP charges almost one person a week for targeting politicians, commissioner says
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett says police charge almost one person a week for targeting federal parliamentarians or senior office holders.
She made the comments at a joint press conference with Victoria police about the investigation into an attack on MP Helen Haines in Victoria on Monday.
Barrett said the AFP had no specific intelligence that an attack like this would happen.
She said people who make online threats against politicians are often shocked when police arrive with a search warrant or lay charges.
Her comments show that threats can lead to police searches and charges, even when people making them do not expect officers to act.
Victoria police and the AFP are investigating the attack.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett says police charge almost one person a week for targeting federal politicians or other senior office holders.
Barrett said online threats against parliamentarians can lead to officers executing search warrants or laying charges.
She made the comments at a joint press conference with Victoria Police about the investigation into an attack on MP Helen Haines.
Barrett said the AFP had no specific intelligence that the attack would occur.
- Who
- AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett described the rate of charges. The people charged are accused of targeting parliamentarians or high office holders.
- What
- Police are charging almost one person a week for targeting those officials.
- When
- Barrett made the comments at a press conference reported on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- At a joint press conference with Victoria Police. The investigation concerns an attack on Helen Haines in Victoria.
- Why
- Barrett said police are concerned about online threats against parliamentarians. She said the AFP had no specific intelligence that the attack on Haines would occur.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Helen Haines was attacked in Victoria.
Barrett spoke at a joint press conference with Victoria Police about the investigation.
- Charge rate
- Almost one person a week
- Commissioner
- Krissy Barrett
- Targeted officials
- Commonwealth parliamentarians or high office holders
- Incident under investigation
- Attack on MP Helen Haines
- Location
- Victoria
2 sources
What people are saying
charging almost one individual every week for targeting commonwealth parliamentarians or high office holders
absolutely shocked
something as atrocious as what happened on Monday afternoon