A Queensland man has been sentenced by the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday (7 September, 2026) to six months' imprisonment over threats made towards a federal parliamentarian.
The Magistrate ordered the man, 57, serve the sentence in the community, releasing him on a $3000 recognisance order to be of good behaviour for 18 months.
The man was issued with a Notice to Appear on 16 July, 2026, after the AFP's National Security Investigations (NSI) team began an investigation earlier that month into a report of multiple threats directed towards a federal parliamentarian.
Police linked the man, 57, to the threatening behaviour and executed a search warrant on 16 July, 2026, at a home in Coomera, on Queensland's Gold Coast.
The man was charged with one count of threatening to cause harm to a Commonwealth public official, contrary to section 147.2(2) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
He pleaded guilty to this offence yesterday (7 September, 2026) in the Southport Magistrates Court.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced the establishment of NSI teams in October, 2025, to target groups and individuals causing high levels of harm to Australia's social cohesion, including the targeting of the federal parliamentarians.
Anyone with information about people threating violence towards politicians or engaging in hateful rhetoric which risks our social cohesion is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, online via the Crime Stoppers website or make a report to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
