NSW man charged over alleged online threat targeted at federal parliamentarian

A Lithgow man is expected to face a NSW court today (28 October, 2026), charged with using social media to allegedly threaten a federal parliamentarian and drug possession.

The AFP’s National Security Investigations (NSI) team began an investigation in September, 2026, after receiving a report of an alleged online threat made towards the federal parliamentarian.

NSI investigators executed a search warrant at a Lithgow home yesterday (27 October, 2026), where investigators seized a mobile phone, about 1 gram of a white crystalline substance alleged to be a border-controlled drug, and drug paraphernalia.

The man, 39, was arrested and charged with:

  • One count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, contrary to section 474.17 of the Criminal Code (Cth). The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment;

  • One count of possession of prohibited drugs, contrary to section 10(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). This offence carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment; and

  • One count of possession of equipment for administration of a prohibited drug, contrary to section 11(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). This offence carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment.

He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear before Bail Division Court 4 today.

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.

/Public Release. View in full here.