Police Cannot Act If Foreign Regime Issues Threats Against Australians: Greens Leader

Falun Dafa practitioners from across Australia take part in a parade in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 23, 2026. Tien Nguyen/The Epoch Times

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) says it cannot act when local residents are threatened to leave the country by foreign regimes because they don’t have the power to do so, according to Greens leader David Shoebridge.

The senator made the comment while questioning the Department of Home Affairs on how it handles “transnational repression,” during a Senate Estimates hearing on Oct. 27.

Transnational repression is a subset of foreign interference and involves an overseas regime crossing national borders to threaten or pressure communities, often migrants.

Cases of transnational repression have ramped up in recent years, particularly against groups like the Uyghurs and practitioners of the spiritual discipline Falun Gong.

A man attacks a Falun Gong practitioner filming him as he forcefully removes their banners on a public sidewalk outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto on Sept. 22, 2026. (Screenshot/Handout) — A man attacks a Falun Gong practitioner filming him as he forcefully removes their banners on a public sidewalk outside the Chinese Consulate in Toronto on Sept. 22, 2026. Screenshot/Handout

Ciara Spencer, deputy secretary of law enforcement and domestic security, told the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee that people who experience transnational repression are supposed to first go to the AFP or local police, and are then referred to general mental health and welfare services.

Shoebridge asked whether Home Affairs funds services for victims, Spencer said, “No, senator, we don’t.”

He further said that each time he referred cases where individuals were threatened to leave the country due to their political views, the AFP told him it could not act because the threats were made in another country.

“When they report, nothing happens,” Shoebridge said, adding that this was probably one of the reasons the problem was underreported.

David Shoebridge with former leader Larissa Waters and South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young in background. (Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images) — David Shoebridge with former leader Larissa Waters and South Australian Senator Sarah Hanson-Young in background. Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

Deputy Secretary Spencer agreed that people were reluctant to come forward, particularly out of fear for family members overseas.

She said the Department offered only general online and personal security advice through a community website launched late last year, and did not help individuals with their digital security.

A 2025 report by the human rights group Freedom House found that few people use Australia’s National Security Hotline, which was established in response to increasing awareness around foreign interference. Further, the government does not publish how many reports it receives.

New Offence Still in the Works

In July, the national security legislation watchdog, Jake Blight, recommended a new offence of “coerced repatriation,” where foreign regimes carry out threats and force someone to leave Australia.

Spencer said new offences were a matter for the Attorney-General’s Department, but Home Affairs was “developing policy and looking at options.”

Home Affairs Secretary Stephanie Foster stepped in saying the Attorney-General’s Department was considering the issue, telling the committee she wanted “to reassure you that that is under consideration.”

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said in June that at least five regimes were pressuring people in Australia to return to their country of birth, with one forcing eight people to leave in 2023.

Spencer also said Home Affairs’ foreign interference team had met community representatives 14 times this year, as well as 10 non-government and support organisations, seven community groups, nine service providers, and one faith-based peak body.

Foster told Shoebridge he had raised “really helpful, practical suggestions” and she would look to cooperate further with the AFP, the Attorney-General’s Department, and the state governments.

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