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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among those targeted by what the magistrate, Theo Tsavdaridis, described as “abhorrent” threats.
The court heard that Keating had posted a death threat aimed at the prime minister and his wife, which included a graphic slur.
The magistrate emphasized that these social media posts were a “serious affront” to the principles upheld by a civilized society.
“Hatred of this magnitude has no place in a nation like ours,” he stated.
According to the agreed facts, the 37-year-old had grown frustrated with government policies and what he perceived as the rise of “wokeness” and “communism” beginning in late 2024.
He felt he was unable to have an opinion on political issues.
“One can express political opinions without resorting to calls for murder,” Tsavdaridis said.
Because Keating only had six followers on X, his lawyer argued there was no evidence anyone had seen the posts to be offended by them.
But Tsavdaridis said Keating’s account was public, so anyone using the site could theoretically have found the posts.
“Any gains we have painstakingly made as a multicultural society over many years can very quickly be cast into oblivion,” he said.
“The law has always drawn a clear boundary between robust discourse and the incitement of violence.”
He ordered Keating to serve a two-year community corrections order and undergo constant mental health treatment.
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