Man charged over alleged social media threat against Tanya Plibersek

Shannon Bennett appeared in Bail Division Court 3 via audio-visual link from custody on Thursday morning, where he was granted conditional bail by Judge Te'res Sia. He has not yet entered a plea.

The charge relates to an alleged Facebook post from July 22. The AFP said its National Security Investigations team had been investigating the matter since July after receiving a report of an alleged online threat to kill a federal parliamentarian.

Investigators said they linked the alleged post to Mr Bennett and searched his Berridale home on Wednesday, where they seized a mobile phone for examination.

Judge Sia described the matter as "serious in its allegations" but noted that while Mr Bennett's criminal history in Queensland and New South Wales was "not unblemished", he had "no entries of a similar or identical kind".

As part of his bail conditions, Mr Bennett is prohibited from using social media, must not go near or contact the Social Services minister, and must stay at least 100 metres from Ms Plibersek's electorate office in Redfern and Parliament House in Canberra. He is also required to report to Cooma Police Station once a week.

The maximum penalty for the offence is 10 years' imprisonment.

The AFP established its National Security Investigations team in October 2025 to target people "causing high levels of harm to Australia's social cohesion, including the targeting of federal parliamentarians".

Ms Plibersek declined to comment, citing it as a police matter before the courts. Mr Bennett will face Queanbeyan Local Court on September 15.

Why This Matters

The case highlights ongoing concerns about online threats targeting Australian parliamentarians and the government's efforts to address such threats through dedicated national security policing.
It underscores the intersection of free speech on social media and the legal boundaries around threatening language, with the court treating the allegations seriously even as bail was granted.
The outcome could influence how such cases are handled under the AFP's relatively new National Security Investigations team, established in late 2025.

Background

In October 2025, the Australian Federal Police launched a National Security Investigations team specifically tasked with targeting individuals who cause "high levels of harm to Australia's social cohesion," including threats against federal politicians. The team was created amid growing concern over online radicalisation and the potential for online threats to escalate into real-world violence. Australian law makes it a serious offence — carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment — to use a carriage service, such as social media, to make a threat to kill or cause serious harm to another person.

Key Perspectives

The AFP and Prosecution: The police view such threats as a serious breach of social cohesion that warrants investigation and prosecution, particularly when directed at elected officials, and have established a specialised unit to address them. The Defence: The court heard that while Mr Bennett has a criminal history, it does not include similar offences, which factored into the decision to grant bail. His defence may argue the allegations do not warrant detention before trial. Broader Public: The case taps into debates about the safety of public officials, the limits of acceptable speech online, and whether current laws and policing are adequate to deter or respond to threats.

What to Watch

Mr Bennett's next court appearance on September 15 in Queanbeyan Local Court, where he may enter a plea.
Whether the AFP's National Security Investigations team brings additional cases as a result of its work.
Any legislative or policy responses if threats against politicians continue to rise.

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