A 28-year-old man from Sydney's northern beaches, Nathan Ballesty, has pleaded guilty to six counts of using a carriage service to menace or offend, including threats against Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Ballesty was arrested by the Australian Federal Police on December 21, 2023.
Initially charged with using a carriage service to threaten Albanese with serious harm, that charge was formally withdrawn on May 27 when Ballesty entered his guilty plea to lesser offenses. He also admitted to performing a Nazi salute for an online audience and refusing to provide police with passwords and PINs for his electronic devices.
Details of Ballesty's online activity emerged after the Daily Mail obtained a statement of facts tendered in Downing Centre District Court. Police found a copy of Adolf Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" and a Nazi uniform with SS insignia during a raid on his home.
Ballesty used platforms like X and Discord, where he was a member of a group called Server Down Under. In online discussions, he expressed negative views about Prime Minister Albanese, calling him a "rat and a terrorist" and suggesting he should be kidnapped and forced to answer questions. He also spoke of "renting the van" to facilitate such an action, though he later told police this was a joke.
Ballesty also made specific threats against Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. In response to a post about revoking the visa of a neo-Nazi protestor, Ballesty wrote, "If you deport him I will kill you in parliament on live television." He also commented on a post about Burke, stating, "Face the wall Tony."
Further online messages revealed Ballesty's intent to commit violence against federal politicians. He wrote to a Discord user about blocking parliamentary doors and "burning the building to the ground," but added a note to warn Pauline Hanson, "Don’t come to parliament today."
In a message referencing the Bondi massacre, Ballesty wrote, "We need Cronulla 2 the final solution. And we need it now." He also participated in a Discord call discussing a video of National Socialist Network leader Thomas Sewell and gave a Nazi salute. In a recorded video, he discussed the ANZACs and stated that "People like Anthony Albanese don't listen" and the only way to change their mind is through a "5.56 round."
Ballesty is currently awaiting sentencing for the charges, having had his bail revoked on May 18. He had previously sought donations for his legal defense, stating that his family was struggling and that the charges were "ridiculous."