Australian Federal Police will be in charge of protecting around 3000 candidates during the upcoming federal election campaign.
The federal policing body has set up a dedicated task force, named Operation Wilmot, to respond to security threats levelled against parliamentarians and candidates ahead of the national poll.
The AFP is working with the electoral commission to provide security advice to candidates, and has stood up a police co-ordination centre that candidates can access to get information directly.
Assistant commissioner of the specialist protective command Fiona Drennan says it is important the AFP is aware of any threats so it can determine what security is necessary.
"We've been through our security protection and diplomatic liaison teams that are around the capital cities, and we've been engaging with the electoral officers and staff and members and senators directly," she told a Senate committee on Thursday.
"If we are advised of activities, then we will use our processes to assess their security and we'll provide that advice back, so parliamentarians and candidates can go to the events with the assurance of the security."
The head of Australian intelligence agency ASIO says it is unlikely the election will attract a planned violent protest, but noted the risk of "spontaneous or opportunist acts of violence at otherwise peaceful protests".
"Provocative or disruptive activity is also possible and ASIO will continue to work with our law enforcement agencies and other partners to ensure security threats are identified and mitigated," Mike Burgess told senators on Thursday.
Mr Burgess also says the agency is monitoring security concerns that emanate from parliamentarians including through foreign interference or the incitement of violence.
Some parliamentarians have appeared at anti-vaccination and conspiracy theory protests, which have included acts of violence by a small number of individuals in some circumstances.
"Obviously, we look for the violence, we also look around things that may well give permission to others for violence," Mr Burgess said.
"Whether I'd go straight to the leader of the party or the politician themselves - I may go straight to the politician themselves (as) just because they're engaging in certain things doesn't mean to say they actually believe in violence."
It follows a number of threats and harassment being directed at parliamentarians.
ACT Labor MP Andrew Leigh was granted a personal protection order after threats were made against him.
Senator Kristina Keneally and Western Australian MP Madeleine King have also faced threats, while Ged Kearney recently had her office in Victoria vandalised.
Three people have been charged in the past 18 months with threatening to cause harm to a Commonwealth official, one has been prosecuted for using the postal service to make threats to kill, while five have been charged for using a carriage service to menace or harass.
Two further matters remain under investigation.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is widely expected to call the election mid-next week.
Asked whether he would make the call by the end of the weekend, he told Perth radio 6PR: "No, I mean, we've got work to do. We're getting the budget through this week and we'll be ... very enthusiastically letting Australians know about what's in that budget."
The last pre-election budget in 2019 was followed by millions of dollars in government advertising to explain key measures.
