A West Australian man has become the first person convicted and sentenced in Australia for transmitting violent extremist material online, after he admitted posting Islamic State content on social media.
The man, 19, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Perth District Court today (20 March, 2025) after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday (18 March) to one count of transmitting violent extremist material online and one count of using a carriage service to cause offence.
The sentence was backdated to 12 June, 2024, when he was arrested and taken into custody; and he will be eligible to apply for parole from 12 May, 2026.
The Western Australia Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) started an investigation in June, 2024, after receiving a report of violent extremist material being spread by a user on social media and encrypted messaging platforms.
The content shared consisted of violent Islamic State-produced videos that included beheadings and audio recordings stating intent and encouragement for violence, as well as online conversations involving violence and contempt towards people based on their religious beliefs or ethnicity.
Investigators from the WA JCTT, which comprises the AFP, Western Australia Police Force (WAPF) and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), linked the man to the accounts and executed a search warrant at his southern suburbs home on 12 June, 2024.
During a search of the man's house and car, police seized a mobile telephone as well as a knife and black balaclava, which were items that appeared in some of the material shared online.
He was then charged. The new Commonwealth offence of transmitting violent extremist material online was among amendments to counter-terrorism legislation, which came into force on 8 January, 2024. The maximum penalty for the offence is five years' imprisonment.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said WA JCTT investigators had been concerned about the material the man was spreading online and acted quickly to protect the community.
"One of the goals of the WA JCTT is to keep the community safe by preventing anyone from advocating for attacks or harassment of other people," Assistant Commissioner Nutt said.
"Islamic State shares violent extremist material online to try to radicalise young people around the world and encourage them to carry out acts of violence on its behalf.
"It is an offence to access, or share violent extremist material and authorities will act when these crimes are identified.
"We want to remind the public - if you see something concerning online, please report it. Your information is often invaluable in assisting law enforcement to protect the community."
The man pleaded guilty to two charges:
- One count of using a carriage service to transmit violent extremist material, contrary to section 474.45B of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- One count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, contrary to section 474.17 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The WA JCTT works tirelessly to protect the community and ensure risks of violent extremism are monitored, investigated and disrupted.
Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.
