PM Death Threats: Man’s Bizarre Excuse

Sydney Man Avoids Jail for “Abhorrent” Social Media Threats Against Prime Minister

A Sydney man has narrowly avoided a prison sentence for a disturbing online campaign involving death threats directed at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Alexander Phillip David Keating, 36, pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass, or offend, stemming from a series of posts made on X, formerly known as Twitter, in the lead-up to the federal election.

Keating’s sentencing in the Downing Centre Local Court saw the court hear the gravity of his online actions. Over a two-month period between February 2025 and April 2026, Keating published approximately 45 posts. While the specific content is too graphic to be reproduced, the court was informed that the material was deeply offensive, containing elements of racism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and the promotion of sexual and physical violence.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis did not mince words, describing the facts of the case as “abhorrent” and stating that they “do not make for pleasant reading.” He emphasised that Keating’s conduct was calculated to dehumanise entire groups of people and incite extreme violence against them. “The conduct for which the defendant stands charged represents a grave abuse of a social media platform and is a serious affront to the values of a civilised society,” the magistrate remarked. “There is no place for this level of hatred in a country such as ours.”

Keating’s legal representative, Tom Seeney, attempted to mitigate the impact of the posts by noting that Keating’s X account had a minimal following of just six users at the time. He argued that it could not be definitively proven that anyone had actually seen the offending content, suggesting that while the account was public, one would have to actively seek out the posts. The magistrate acknowledged this point, conceding, “One cannot know the width of one’s audience when it is transmitted into the social media ether.”

The court heard that Keating’s actions were fuelled by a growing sense of frustration with government policies and their perceived impact on his life. He specifically cited concerns over “wokeness, communism and immigration policies,” expressing a feeling that he was “unable to have an opinion.”

Crucially, the court was also presented with evidence linking Keating’s emotional and behavioural state at the time directly to his complex mental health issues. These included challenges with impulse control and regulating emotions. As a result, the court noted the necessity for ongoing mental health treatment and assessment for Keating.

Sentencing and Community Correction

Ultimately, Keating was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order. This order mandates his attendance at mental health treatment programs. The charge he pleaded guilty to carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment, making the community corrections order a significant leniency.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) had been investigating the threats since March 2025. Their inquiries successfully linked the online messages to Keating’s social media account. A subsequent search of his Kingswood home in May led to the seizure of his electronic devices and his eventual arrest and charge.

Acting AFP Commander Mark Baron reiterated the force’s commitment to protecting parliamentarians. “The AFP takes all reports regarding the safety and security of parliamentarians seriously and assesses each matter based on the information provided,” Commander Baron stated. He further clarified, “The AFP supports freedom of speech and political expression, but I want to make it clear we will never tolerate criminal behaviour, including threats and harassment.”