Perth, WA — WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says there is no public evidence to support independent Senator Lidia Thorpe’s claim that there was rally attack intelligence pointing to a possible incident at a January 26 Australia Day rally. Thorpe had alleged such intelligence existed, raising questions about security planning ahead of the nationwide holiday.
In the weeks leading up to Australia Day, the debate centred on how public celebrations are safeguarded and who holds the information that informs security decisions. Police say they have not publicly released an intelligence brief that would corroborate Thorpe’s assertion, and there has been no official confirmation of a planned or imminent attack. The commissioner emphasised a cautious approach to information sharing, saying that operational details are typically handled through established channels and subject to security constraints.
What we know
- WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch has publicly rejected the assertion that rally attack intelligence existed, noting there is no public evidence to back it up at this time.
- The claim concerns a January 26 Australia Day rally in Western Australia and has triggered questions about how security is assessed for major civic events.
- Thorpe, an independent Senator, made the allegation, prompting a broader discussion about transparency and what information is available to the public and lawmakers.
- There has been no disclosure of an intelligence brief or official confirmation of a specific threat to the rally from police or security agencies.
- Public statements from authorities have described routine precautions for large gatherings, while avoiding public detail about any formal threat assessment.
What we don’t know
- Whether any intelligence exists beyond what has been publicly discussed, and if so, what its scope or reliability might be.
- The exact source, nature, and provenance of the alleged intelligence, and whether it was ever formally shared with state or federal authorities.
- Whether any security operations or deployments were adjusted in response to the claim, and what those changes entailed if they occurred.
- How Thorpe’s comments will influence ongoing public debate about Australia Day security and the handling of sensitive information by lawmakers.
- Whether any formal review or inquiry will follow the assertion, and what transparency steps would accompany such an outcome.
