The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has issued a stern warning to individuals holding extremist ideologies, following the arrest and charges against three men accused of making threats toward parliament members.
One of the accused, identified as Davis, purportedly urged his followers through an online platform to “rhetorically rape” MP Spender.
AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Matthew Gale remarked, “Yesterday, our New South Wales National Security Investigations Team successfully apprehended and charged a 30-year-old man for using a communication service to harass a federal parliamentarian.”
Gale further stated, “We contend that the individual disseminated a threatening message via an encrypted online service, inciting abuse and hate directed at this member of parliament.”
According to Gale, the message allegedly followed the MP’s public criticism of a Nationalist Socialist Network demonstration that took place in Sydney earlier this month.
The accused is scheduled to make a court appearance later today.
On Saturday, a separate investigation resulted in a 29-year-old man from NSW’s north being issued a court attendance notice for offences of allegedly making online threats to an Australian high office holder.
“We will allege the man used an online website portal to make threatening and harassing comments towards the high office holder,” Gale said.
The man is scheduled to appear in court in January next year.
This morning, the National Security Investigations Team in Victoria executed a search warrant as part of an investigation into a man who is alleged to have used a carriage service to harass a federal member of parliament.
“A man has now been arrested and charged with using a carriage service to harass a federal member of parliament,” the AFP said.
“These three incidents are an example of the challenges we face in combating those who are seeking to damage our social cohesion.
“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 was no place for hate or violence in Australia and that the AFP is focused on defending Australia from potential threats in the future.
“If you wish to share extremist views that seek to erode the social fabric of our community, the AFP activity this week is a very explicit warning,” he said.
“Threats against federal parliamentarians is a significant issue for us.
“We are on the record previously talking about the year-on-year increase that we’re seeing in relation to threats, it’s at 63 per cent over the last four years now.”
The maximum penalty for the charges carries five years imprisonment. 
The neo-Nazi rally held on November 8 sparked outrage and calls for tougher laws, with questions on how the group was allowed to protest outside NSW parliament.
