With foreign interference representing “a serious threat”, AFP community liaison teams will be meeting with CALD communities, groups and religious leaders to explain what foreign interference is, how it manifests and where victims can seek assistance.
A factsheet, which will be translated into more than 30 languages, will urge individuals to call the National Security Hotline if they believe they are the victim of, or have witnessed, foreign interference in Australia.
Unlawful acts of foreign interference included foreign governments, their agents or proxies using covert or deceptive conduct, threats of assault, blackmail, kidnapping or coercion by threatening an individual’s family member living overseas.
It also included disinformation campaigns to discredit people or groups.
AFP Special Investigations Commander Stephen Nutt said foreign interference was 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
“Foreign interference represents a serious threat to Australian communities, sovereignty and security,’’ he 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 said it was important individuals knew that foreign interference was a crime under Australian law and the best defence was being able to recognise it and knowing how to report it.
The National Security Hotline – 1800 123 400 – operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
