A 30-year-old man from regional New South Wales has been charged after federal police alleged he posted threatening and offensive material online and displayed a Nazi symbol on social media.
The man is due to appear before the Armidale Local Court on 30 March 2026 after being charged by the Australian Federal Police on 11 March.
Police said the charges followed an investigation launched in November 2025 by the AFP’s National Security Investigations team after authorities were alerted to an allegedly threatening and offensive post on a social media platform. Investigators later linked the 30-year-old to the post.
During the investigation, officers also identified an image posted on one of the man’s social media accounts that allegedly showed a hat bearing a Nazi symbol.
AFP officers executed a search warrant at a home in Armidale on 11 March. The man was later granted bail and is facing five counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, as well as one count of publicly displaying a prohibited Nazi symbol or giving a Nazi salute. Each charge carries a potential maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Jeremy Staunton said police would act against threatening behaviour both online and in the community. He said investigators had the capability to identify people attempting to promote fear or hatred, even if they believed they were shielded by anonymity through social media or online accounts.
The case comes amid broader federal efforts to address extremist behaviour and threats to social cohesion. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced the creation of specialised National Security Investigations teams in October 2025 to target individuals and groups accused of causing significant harm to community harmony, including incidents involving the Jewish community.
The matter is scheduled to return to court later this month.
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