CANBERRA, ACT, April 30 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release:
A man from NSW is expected to appear before Coffs Harbour Local Court on 13 May, 2026, charged in relation to alleged online death threats and posts threatening parliamentarians.
In March, 2026, a social media user made five offensive posts online. One post contained alleged death threats directed toward two parliamentarians.
The AFP's National Security Investigations (NSI) team linked the man, 45, to the alleged online posts.
A search warrant was executed in Bellingen, NSW, on 29 April, 2026, where the AFP seized an electronic device.
The man was charged with:
* Four counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass and/or cause offence, contrary to section 474.17(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
* One count of threatening to cause harm to a Commonwealth public official, contrary to section 147.2(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
* One count of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill, contrary to section 474.15(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He faces a maximum penalty of five, seven, and 10 years' imprisonment for these offences, respectively.
The man appeared before the NSW Bail Division Court today (30 April, 2026) and was granted bail.
AFP Detective Superintendent Jeremy Staunton said publishing death threats online would not be tolerated by the AFP.
"No one, regardless of their profession, should be subjected to online death threats or content that seeks to harass or threaten them," Det-Supt Staunton said.
"The AFP's NSI teams are committed to identifying and disrupting behavior that threatens our democracy and poses a potential risk to the community."
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced the establishment of NSI teams in October, 2025, to target groups and individuals causing high levels of harm to Australia's social cohesion, including the targeting of federal parliamentarians.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
