Threats against politicians soar to almost 1000 a year as three men arrested
Two men were arrested for threatening federal politicians after neo-Nazi leader Joel Davis was indicted for allegedly harassing a federal lawmaker; The Australian Federal Police has warned that threats against politicians from a range of ideologies have risen to almost 1,000 a year.
Deputy Commissioner Matthew Gale told a press conference in Canberra that there were 951 referrals made to the AFP about threats to federal parliamentarians in the last financial year, and that number had increased by 63 per cent in the past four years.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been the target of online harassment. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“There are existing and emerging individuals and groups who are eroding the social fabric of our country by advocating hatred, fear and contempt, and the AFP is once again warning them,” Gale said. “There is no place for hate or violence in our communities and the AFP will defend and protect Australia and our future against these threats.”
Two men, including Davis, were arrested in NSW over allegations of threatening, harassing or intimidating behavior towards federal politicians.
Davis, 30, was charged on Thursday for allegedly calling on supporters to “rhetorically rape” independent MP Allegra Harcama, who condemned the neo-Nazi march on the NSW parliament earlier this month. Davis is due to appear in a Sydney court on Friday.
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A 29-year-old man from northern NSW is alleged to have made online threats targeting Premier Anthony Albanese.
“We will allege the man used an online website portal to make threatening and abusive comments towards the high-ranking official. He will appear in court in January 2026,” Gale said.
A third man was arrested in Victoria following the execution of a search warrant. He was accused of using a carriage service to harass independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe.
