‘Not deterred’: Anthony Albanese defiant after alleged far-right kidnap threat
Anthony Albanese has said he will not be prevented from attending public meetings after it was revealed that far-right friends of neo-Nazis threatened to kidnap the Prime Minister just hours after the Bondi Beach terror attack.
On Sunday, threats were reportedly made in a Discord online chat room run by far-right activists and including neo-Nazi members, including an offer to rent a $10,000 van to kidnap Mr Albanese.
Acknowledging the reports, Mr Albanese said it was “true that threats are increasing”.
“There are a number of issues that we have had to deal with, including in the week after December 14,” he told the ABC.
“My focus is on keeping all Australians safe, not myself. I trust the AFP and the authorities to do their duty and I am absolutely determined not to be deterred from attending any events or engaging with the Australian public as Prime Minister.”
At least five people have been charged over alleged threats against Mr Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns in recent months; They include a Sydney man accused of making threatening calls to the Prime Minister’s office and a 19-year-old Western Australian accused of sending messages threatening to kill on social media.
As the visibility of neo-Nazi groups has increased in recent years, threats against those in office have also increased.
Neo-Nazi figure Joel Davis was refused bail earlier this month after he allegedly invited members of the defunct Nationalist Socialist Network (NSN) to “rhetorically rape” independent Wentworth MP Allegra Spending on a Telegram social media channel.
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane also claimed leading female politicians faced threats after criticizing a neo-Nazi rally outside the state parliament last year.
NSW said last week they would disband following new anti-hate laws that were rushed through federal parliament on Tuesday in response to the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The group is not alleged to have any connection with the attack but has been repeatedly ostracized by ASIO Director-General Mark Burgess and Home Secretary Tony Burke for its rhetoric.
