A Sydney man has been charged over alleged online death threats made against federal Minister Anika Wells and her family, with police confirming the offences pre-date recent controversy surrounding the minister’s travel expenses.
The 31-year-old Bankstown resident allegedly sent two threatening emails to Ms Wells’ office in late November. The emails were immediately flagged and referred to the Australian Federal Police’s National Security Investigations (NSI) team.
The AFP said the minister’s office reported the emails last month, prompting an investigation that allegedly linked the man to the messages. Officers executed a search warrant at a Bankstown property on Friday, arresting the man and seizing multiple electronic devices for forensic examination.
The man appeared before Bankstown Local Court the same day, charged with one count of using a carriage service to threaten to kill, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment under Commonwealth law.
AFP Detective Superintendent Jeremy Staunton said threats against politicians would not be tolerated.
“Freedom of speech and political expression are keys to a healthy democracy; however, threats towards politicians, and particularly their families, are taken extremely seriously,” Det Supt Staunton said.
“Police have the tools and resources to identify individuals or groups who seek to promote hate and fear within our community, even if they believe they are hiding behind the anonymity of a keyboard or email account.”
The AFP established its National Security Investigations teams in September to focus on individuals and groups causing significant harm to Australia’s social cohesion, including those targeting federal parliamentarians.
A spokesperson for Minister Wells said she would not comment while the matter is before the court.
The Daily Mail reported the alleged threats occurred before Ms Wells came under public scrutiny over her use of parliamentary travel and allowances.
The minister recently referred herself to the parliamentary expenses authority following media reports about her expenditure, a move Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly defended, saying she had acted appropriately and that the matter was now independent of government.
Police and prosecutors have stressed there is no connection between the alleged threats and the subsequent political controversy.
The court granted the man conditional bail. As part of his bail conditions, the man was ordered to surrender his passport and is prohibited from contacting or approaching Minister Wells or any of her offices. He is due to reappear in court on 23 December.
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