Media Release
WA man charged over allegedly offensive emails to Commonwealth official
A WA man has been summonsed to appear in Bunbury Magistrates Court next month after he allegedly sent offensive emails to a Commonwealth official.
It is alleged the man, 49, sent two offensive emails to the office of the public official last year. The emails allegedly included abusive, degrading and threatening language directed at the office holder.
The emails were referred to the AFP, and an investigation was commenced by the National Security Investigations Team (NSI).
Following inquiries, a man was served a summons today (15 October, 2026) for a charge of using a carriage service in a way that reasonable persons would regard as being, in all the circumstances, menacing, harassing or offensive, contrary to subsection 474.17(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for this offence is five years’ imprisonment.
He is scheduled to appear in Bunbury Magistrates Court on 16 November, 2026.
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.
