Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett says the display of the Hezbollah symbol alone is not enough to lay charges as there needs to be proof someone is inciting violence.
On Sunday, pro-Palestine rally members in Melbourne and Sydney wore Hezbollah T-shirts, waved the terrorist group’s flag, and held up photos of slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, prompting the AFP and Immigration Minister Tony Burke to confirm they are investigating protesters.
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett.Credit: Joe Armao
Speaking on ABC Radio National this morning, Barrett confirmed the AFP was looking into the protest activity in Melbourne.
“I can confirm that we have commenced multiple investigations following behaviour at protests over the weekend. A number of those include information that we have received, particularly from Victoria Police, in relation to the protests out in Melbourne on Sunday,” she said.
Barrett said the AFP had not received reports from NSW but encouraged the NSW Police to use the legislation available to them to investigate.
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“I know NSW Police have commenced action in relation to some of the behaviour at the protests in Sydney over the weekend,” Barrett said.
While the AFP will be investigating the protesters, Barrett cautioned that multiple elements need to be proven for a successful prosecution.
“For us to have prospects of a successful prosecution, it is not just merely the display of the symbol. There are a number of elements that need to go alongside the display,” Barrett said.
“The way the legislation is set out is that there needs to be a public display of a symbol that a terrorist organisation uses to identify themselves, so we need to prove that it is a terrorist organisation symbol and then it’s got to be done in circumstances in which a reasonable person would consider that the conduct either advocates inciting others to use violence or use force [and] could incite others to humiliate, intimidate, based on race or religion,” Barrett said.
“I can assure you I’ve got some of the best terrorism investigators investigating these matters.”
This masthead does not suggest that any person pictured at these protests will or should be charged, given the context of their presence at the protest is not known.
