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

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.

“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.

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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.

A third man was arrested in Victoria following the execution of a search warrant. He was charged with using a carriage service to harass independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe.