Threats against politicians soar to almost 1000 a year as three men arrested

3 months ago 13

Two men have been arrested for threatening federal politicians after neo-Nazi leader Joel Davis was charged with allegedly harassing a federal MP, with the Australian Federal Police warning that threats against politicians from a range of ideologies have soared to almost 1000 a year.

There have been 951 referrals to the AFP of threats to federal parliamentarians in the last financial year, rising 63 per cent over the past four years, acting assistant commissioner Matthew Gale told a press conference in Canberra.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been targeted by online harassment.

“There are current and emerging individuals and groups who are eroding our country’s social fabric by advocating hatred, fear and humiliation, and the AFP, once again, is putting them on notice,” Gale said. “There is no place for hate or violence in our communities, and the AFP will defend and protect Australia and our future from these threats.”

Two men, including Davis, were arrested in NSW over allegations of threatening, harassing or intimidatory behaviour towards federal politicians.

Davis, aged 30, was charged on Thursday after allegedly calling on supporters to “rhetorically rape” independent MP Allegra Spender after she condemned a neo-Nazi march on NSW parliament earlier this month. Davis will appear before a Sydney court on Friday.

A 29-year-old man from northern NSW is alleged to have made online threats targeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“We will allege the man used an online website portal to make threatening and harassing comments towards the high office holder. He will face court in January 2026,” Gale said.

Communications minister Anika Wells declined to comment on cases before the court but said the online world had been a “wild west” for too long. “This has been an unregulated space where too many Australians have found themselves the subject of online harm,” Wells said.

In Victoria, former young Liberal Stefan Eracleous has been charged with allegedly harassing independent senator Lidia Thorpe.

Eracleous was unmasked as a neo-Nazi by this masthead in 2022, after appearing in a video burning the Aboriginal flag that targeted Thorpe with racist slurs. Thorpe’s office declined to comment, citing the court proceedings. He is set to appear before Melbourne Magistrate’s Court next week.

Eracleous was kicked out of the National Socialist Network last year by its leader, Thomas Sewell.

The neo-Nazi group is on an aggressive recruitment drive and has been behind a series of recent stunts targeting politicians that include ambushing Albanese and other MPs during the last federal election campaign.

NSN leadership claimed Friday that they have now signed up the 1500 members required for the group to register a federal neo-Nazi political par ty, with plans to contest upcoming state elections in NSW and Victoria.

“There is no place for hate or violence in our communities, and the AFP will defend and protect Australia and our future from these threats. There will be no tolerance for groups who advocate or have a propensity for violence, whether offending occurs online or in person, the AFP will use its unique capabilities and legislation to collect evidence and prosecute those who seek to harm our community,” Gale said.

“Threats against federal parliamentarians is a significant issue for us, and we are on the record previously talking about the year-on-year increase that we’re seeing in relation to threats. It’s at 63 per cent over the last four years,” Gale said.

Gale said there was “probably a multitude of factors” contributing to the rise in threats against MPs, but would not provide further detail.

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