The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has charged a man with threatening to cause harm to a commonwealth public official and failure to comply with bail conditions.
The 52-year-old man allegedly verbally threatened an AFP officer who was protecting deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, as reported in Crikey, and adopting what the AFP described as a ‘fighting stance’ during a roadside incident on 22 April. He was arrested on 24 April at his home.
The arrest was by made by officers of Operation Wilmot, a specialised task force designed to protect ‘high-office holders and parliamentarians’ during the federal election.
“The AFP supports political expression and freedom of speech,” said AFP detective acting superintendent Jeremy Staunton. “However, when it leads to disruption, harassment, intimidation, threatening behaviour and damage to property, it can reach the threshold of a criminal offence.
“Politicians, candidates and the people who work with them should be able to do their jobs safely and we will not tolerate criminal behaviour.”
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