A Victorian man has been charged today (3 April, 2025) with allegedly threatening a Commonwealth Parliamentarian via email.
The AFP charged the Ballarat man, 51, after an investigation into alleged threats made in two emails to the Parliamentarian's electoral office.
The AFP allegedly traced these messages to the man's personal email account and executed a search warrant today (3 April, 2025) at his home, where they forensically reviewed an electronic device.
It will be alleged the man sent the emails on 27 March, 2025.
He was charged with:
One count of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill, contrary to section 474.15 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
One count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, contrary to section 474.17 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
These offences carry a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and 5 years' imprisonment, respectively.
The man was granted conditional bail by the Ballarat Magistrates' Court and is scheduled to appear again on 24 June, 2025.
AFP Detective Superintendent Simone Butcher said the arrest should send a strong message that the AFP took all reports regarding the safety and security of politicians seriously.
"The AFP supports freedom of speech and political expression, but criminal behaviour such as threats and harassment will never be tolerated," Det Supt Butcher said.
"The AFP will identify and locate individuals who commit these serious crimes and prosecute them."
