‘Crossed the line’: Aggressive social media attack on minister in the hands of police

A series of social media comments targeting NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty are being probed by NSW Police, with the Labor MP saying the threats of violence have “crossed the line”.

The Facebook page of Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) was filled with numerous remarks about Moriarty. On Thursday, SFF MP Mark Banasiak denied knowledge of the malicious comments after they were put to him, committing to reporting them to police.

The comments followed Moriarty announcing a pilot program in the state’s north-west, requiring public and private landowners to work together to eradicate feral pigs. Individuals who refused to co-operate could face fines of up to $220,000 and corporations $440,000.

Moriarty told the ABC on Friday the threatening comments from the day prior had been reported to NSW Police. Those attacks happened frequently and seemed to be “getting worse”, the upper house MP said, but the latest incident had “crossed the line”.

“It has been reported to the police. Unfortunately, not for the first time,” she said.

“This happens, and politics is certainly robust and brutal, but I don’t think that this stuff is OK. I think we can do better and not be so personal, and certainly not have violent threats against anybody.”

Asked whether her security detail had been strengthened in response to the threats, Moriarty said her team was working with NSW Police. A spokesman for NSW Police said they were aware of the posts and inquiries were ongoing.

Like all other MPs, Banasiak had a responsibility as a public official to monitor his social media and “do better”, Moriarty said.

“He is now aware of it. The post is still up. The comments are still up. Nothing’s been done since this was raised yesterday,” she said.

In an interview with the ABC on Thursday, Banasiak described the response to the pilot program as “vitriolic”, saying farmers were incensed by the lack of clarity around compliance, particularly the threat of Local Land Services flying over properties.

After a series of sexist, misogynistic and violent threads on the party’s Facebook page were put to him, Banasiak denied having knowledge of the contents, disavowed them as unacceptable, and said he would refer them to police.

“We’re not going to go blow-by-blow with you on these. When we see these comments, we delete them and make appropriate action,” he said. “If what you’re reporting to me is correct, and I’ll see those comments, then I’ll deal with it appropriately.”

Premier Chris Minns labelled the venom levelled against his minister as “appalling”, saying she should be allowed to do her job without vilification.

“Twenty or 30 years ago you never saw that sort of abuse; people would be too ashamed to label someone like that,” he said.

“Now they feel like they’ve got impunity to do it online, and it’s disgraceful.”

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