AFP Special Operation Avalite and Victoria Police have charged a Victorian man with allegedly making death threats and antisemitic comments to members of the Commonwealth and Victorian Parliaments.
The Reservoir man, 33, was charged yesterday (6 February, 2025) with:
- Four counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, contrary to section 474.17(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service to threaten to kill, contrary to subsection 474.15(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
Both charges carry a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.
He was granted conditional bail and is scheduled to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on 8 April, 2025.
The AFP will allege the man used social media and email to contact a New South Wales-based Commonwealth MP several times between 16-18 January, 2025, making death threats and antisemitic comments.
Victoria Police will allege the man also used social media to contact a Victorian-based State MP in January, 2025.
Special Operation Avalite and Victoria Police executed a search warrant at the man's home yesterday (6 February, 2025) and seized several electronic devices.
AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said Special Operation Avalite would continue to tirelessly investigate antisemitic conduct.
"Anyone engaging in this type of deplorable behaviour will be investigated, located and brought before the court," Assistant Commissioner Nutt said.
"Parliamentarians and members of our community should not have to endure vile threats based on their race, religion, or ethnicity.
"The community should expect further charges, given the experienced team working on Special Operation Avalite has a number of individuals under investigation."
Under Special Operation Avalite, AFP officers and analysts, representing an experienced squad of counter terrorism investigators, continue to deploy nationally to investigate incidents seen to be:
- Urging violence against members of groups;
- Advocating terrorism;
- Advocating genocide;
- Using a carriage service to make a threat;
- Using a carriage service to menace or harass;
- Unlawful display of prohibited symbols; and
- Using a carriage service to make available personal data of one or more individuals or members of certain groups (Doxxing).
To ensure resources and capability are deployed efficiently, Special Operation Avalite does not replicate state and territory police antisemitism investigations.
