An Illawarra man has pleaded guilty to making an offensive online statement towards Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, but his lawyer said the response by police was “an extreme overreaction to a stupid comment”.
Wayne Pasterfield entered the guilty plea on Thursday morning on behalf of his client Grant Edmond Ellis to one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence.
Ellis, 63, sat in the foyer of Port Kembla Local Court while the matter was considered.
He was arrested at his Koonawarra home by Australian Federal Police (AFP) in June, two months after they began investigating a report of a social media post allegedly containing a violent comment.
Grant Edmond Ellis was arrested at his Koonawarra home. (Supplied: AFP)
The AFP said officers seized an electronic device and ammunition during a subsequent search of the property.
Speaking outside the court, Mr Pasterfield described his client’s offence as “a throwaway line”.
Wayne Pasterfield told the court his client wanted to plead guilty. (ABC Illawarra: Brooke Chandler)
“It was to a post basically telling us what we already know, that kids can’t afford houses etcetera,” he said.
“He’s just a bloke frustrated with the way the country’s being run [and] made a stupid comment online which I’m sure happens every day.“
The AFP announced a National Security Investigation team last October to target groups and individuals causing high levels of harm to Australia’s cohesion, including targeting federal parliamentarians.
Earlier this month, the prime minister pointed to concerns about online commentary.
“Every member of parliament should be able to go about their business free from any threats or any intimidation,” he said at the time.
The matter will return to court in August.
