Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been the subject of a second alleged death threat within 48 hours, leading to the arrest of a teenager in Western Australia. This incident follows another court case involving a Sydney man accused of similar threats made in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Perth Teenager Arrested Over Social Media Threats
Police arrested a 19-year-old man from Meadow Springs in Perth just after midnight on Thursday. The arrest came swiftly after he allegedly used a social media platform to send messages threatening to kill both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.
The teenager has been charged with one count of threatening to kill. He is scheduled to appear before the Mandurah Magistrates Court in February to face the allegation.
Previous Threat Leads to Sydney Court Appearance
This arrest marks the second such charge in as many days. On Wednesday, 43-year-old Greg William Tait from Graystanes in western Sydney faced Parramatta Local Court over allegations he threatened Mr Albanese's life in a series of phone calls.
Court documents state the alleged threats were made between 12pm and 12.45pm on December 15, the day following the Bondi Beach terror attack. Tait was initially charged on December 16 with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, with a further identical charge laid on January 5.
He did not enter a plea during his hearing, informing the court he was still seeking legal advice. Outside court, Tait was followed by a large media contingent but declined to answer questions about whether he held any grievance against the Prime Minister.
Court Proceedings and Potential Penalties
When questioned about the severity of the charges, Tait remarked, 'It can't be too serious, I'm on bail.' He labelled the media a 'bunch of scavengers' and questioned if this was the biggest story in Australia. As he left, he shouted, 'I stand for Team Australia and nothing else.'
If found guilty, Tait faces a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. His case is set to return to court on January 28 for further proceedings.
The consecutive incidents have highlighted ongoing security concerns for high-profile public officials. Authorities have acted promptly in both cases, with arrests following shortly after the threats were allegedly made.
