Anthony Albanese has declared “there’s no place for extremism in Australia” after a 19-year-old man was charged with planning a terrorist attack after he allegedly entered a New South Wales Labor MP’s office carrying “knives and tactical equipment”.
The prime minister was on Friday asked about a document allegedly written by Jordan Patten who was arrested on Wednesday. A Sydney magistrate on Thursday said police would allege Patten had intended to kill Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp “due to his position in the Labor party”.
The prime minister said the teenager should “face the full force of the law”.
Investigators have confirmed that Patten circulated a 200-page document to media outlets and public figures. In the document, allegedly written by Patten and seen by Guardian Australia, there is a reference to a desire to kill Labor MPs, prompting comment from the prime minister. Patten also details grievances against the political party.
He attacks the government’s relationship with former Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce and notes Albanese’s son had access to the airline’s exclusive Chairman’s Lounge.
On Wednesday, Patten, who is from the Hunter region in NSW, allegedly walked in and out of Crakanthorp’s office carrying “knives and tactical equipment”, NSW police have said. He left without making contact with any of Crakanthorp’s staff.
Patten was arrested nearby and subsequently charged with one count of preparing or planning a terrorist act.
He appeared via video link at Parramatta local court on Thursday where acting magistrate Anthony Spence said the case had “overtones of mental health issues”.
Albanese told reporters on Friday “there is no place for extremism in Australia”.
“That documentation that was made is very concerning, including [alleged] threats not just to Labor MPs but to others – to my family,” he said.
“It’s another reason why families should be off-limits from the media. It’s something that is of concern. I applaud the security agencies and police for the swift action they undertook.”
A federal government spokesperson said: “This is now an active joint counter-terrorism response investigation. There is no place for violent extremism or threats. There is no ongoing threat to the community. We have nothing further to add at this time.”
Patten, in the document, claims that he is not a “white national” but “rightwing”.
He expresses anti-immigration, antisemitic, Islamophobic and anti-LGBTQ+ rights views.
A number of pages are dedicated to attacking the Australian Labor party. The document details a wide-ranging list of grievances against the party and the prime minister, referencing changes to the state-three tax cuts, Aukus, shortfalls in Medicare, the blocking of extra flights from Qatar and the Indigenous voice to parliament.
Crakanthorp said on Thursday: “This is a very serious incident. I thank NSW police for their prompt and effective response.”
