A 43-year-old man, Greg William Tait, appeared in Parramatta local court in Sydney on Wednesday, facing charges for allegedly making threatening phone calls to a federal politician's office.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Tait has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence. Police were alerted by the politician's staff on December 16, after multiple threatening calls were reportedly made. Australian Federal Police (AFP) subsequently searched Tait's western Sydney home and seized electronic devices.
If convicted, Tait could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He has not yet entered a plea and informed the court he is seeking legal advice. Tait is scheduled to return to court on January 28.
Broader Context of Threats to Politicians
This incident is part of a broader trend of increased threats against public officials in Australia. In November, Sydney eastern suburbs politicians, including independent federal MP Allegra Spender and NSW opposition leader Kellie Sloane, reportedly received inflammatory, misogynistic, and violent threats following their condemnation of a neo-Nazi rally.
Other recent cases include:
- A man charged in December for alleged online threats to kill federal communications minister Anika Wells.
- A 27-year-old Sydney man arrested later that month for allegedly threatening to kidnap Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in online posts.
The AFP reported receiving 951 referrals or threats against parliamentarians in the 2024-25 financial year, marking a 63% increase over the past four years. Senior federal officer Matthew Gale stated in November that while freedom of speech and political expression are supported, criminal behavior, including threats and harassment, will not be tolerated.