Teen accused of terror plot over Libs’ nuclear policy

A teenager planned to use home-made explosives and hold a public event targeting Liberal Party members in response to Peter Dutton’s nuclear policy, a court was told.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to preparing for a terrorist attack after his trial in the Supreme Court in Brisbane began on Monday.

The jury heard the teenager allegedly planned to attack people and places associated with the Liberal Party in response to then opposition leader Mr Dutton’s policy of building nuclear power plants in Australia.

He was also accused of preparing a bomb attack on a Labor Day parade in Brisbane, Queensland, where 20,000 people were to attend.

The boy allegedly conducted research using pipe bombs, knives and incendiary devices.

He allegedly told friends they should mail bombs to influential people and complained about not being able to buy materials for high explosives at Bunnings hardware store.

Attorney General Sally Flynn told jurors that a teenage student called police in July 2024 because she was concerned about what the accused teenager had said.

“Examination of the phone, laptop and iPad showed that the defendant had been communicating about terrorism and bombs for months,” Ms Flynn said.

The jury was told counter-terrorism police found items the teenager had bought to make explosives.

The teenager, then 16, was accused of planning an attack between March 23 and July 29, 2024.

The jury heard that his family’s home had to be evacuated during the search after officers smelled a chemical odor coming from the bin.

Ms. Flynn said the chemicals found in the bin could have been used to make a hazardous substance.

The teenager had bought the book Hunting the Unabomber, about American domestic terrorist and prolific bomber Ted Kaczynski.

“The central goal of Kaczynski’s ideology was the complete destruction of modern industrialized and technological society,” Ms. Flynn said.

“Terrorism played an important role in promoting Kaczynski’s ideology.”

Ms. Flynn said the jury would hear expert evidence that the defendant had downloaded and absorbed some of the ideology in Kaczynski’s manifesto and that violence was acceptable to him.

Jurors were told they would hear evidence from the boy’s family members, counter-terrorism police, a bomb disposal expert and an academic expert on terrorism.

Adult defendants convicted of preparing for a terrorist attack face a mandatory life sentence.

The sentence for any child found guilty of a crime may be significantly reduced.

The jury will hear opening arguments on Tuesday.

The teenager sat on the dock Monday with four adult supporters behind him.

When asked how he would support the research, purchase and testing of homemade explosives as part of the planning or preparation of a terrorist act, he said: “Not guilty, Your Honor.”

The boy also pleaded not guilty to investigating the Liberal Party and Queensland Labor Day parade in Brisbane in the context of planning or preparing a bomb attack.