A 42-year-old man has been refused bail after allegedly making multiple threatening and vexatious calls to Australian electoral offices while in New Zealand.

The Australian Federal Police began investigating the man in June after he left Australia through Coolangatta Airport and travelled to Auckland.

Over a two-week period, he allegedly made repeated calls to electoral offices in New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania, during which he made threats to harm himself and others.

The AFP arrested the man at Sydney Airport on 20 August after he returned to Australia on a flight from New Zealand. Officers seized two mobile phones, books and a passport during the arrest.

He has been charged with one count of using a carriage service to make a threat to cause serious harm, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment.

He also faces three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, each carrying a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.

The man appeared before the NSW Bail Division Court on 21 August and was refused bail.

His matter is due to return to Downing Centre Local Court on 14 October.

The AFP said the investigation followed its broader efforts to target individuals and groups causing high levels of harm to Australia’s social cohesion, including threats or harassment directed at federal parliamentarians.

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced the establishment of National Security Investigation teams in October 2025 to focus on such threats.

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