Perth Teen Arrested After Alleged Online Death Threats to PM and NSW Premier

The man was charged with threatening to kill and will face court in Mandurah next month.

NSW Premier Chris Minns addresses the media during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 20, 2025. George Chan/Getty Images

A 19-year-old man has been charged in Western Australia (WA) after allegedly making death threats against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns on social media.

Officers from WA Police’s State Security Investigations Group arrested the teenager following an investigation into a message allegedly sent on Jan. 14.

According to a police statement provided to The Epoch Times, it is alleged that about 2 p.m. that day, the man threatened to kill both political leaders.

“About 12.15 a.m., Thursday 15 January 2026, detectives from State Security Investigations attended a residence in Meadow Springs and arrested the man,” it said.

The 19-year-old has been charged with one count of “Threatened to Kill” and is due to appear before the Mandurah Magistrates Court on Feb. 17, 2026.

Part of Broader Pattern

The arrest comes amid a series of recent cases involving alleged threats against elected officials, particularly following the Bondi terror attack in December.

In late December, a Sydney man was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill the prime minister.

Greg William Tait, 43, appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Dec. 22, charged with making threatening phone calls to the prime minister’s office a day after the Bondi attack, according to news.com.au.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have also confirmed other recent investigations.

In one case, a 27-year-old Beacon Hill man in Sydney was charged on Dec. 21, 2025, for posting content calling for the kidnapping of a federal parliamentarian.

Those offences carry maximum penalties of seven and 10 years’ imprisonment, respectively.

In another case in early 2025, the AFP charged a New South Wales man with threatening a Commonwealth MP following an investigation that began in March, ahead of the 2025 federal election.

Police Warn on Online Threats

The AFP has repeatedly warned that threats against elected officials—whether made online, by phone or in person—are treated as serious criminal matters.

“The AFP supports freedom of speech and political expression, but I want to make it clear we will never tolerate criminal behaviour, including threats and harassment,” said AFP Acting Commander Mark Baron.