Vaccine mandate: Natasha Fyles and Kon Vatskalis subject to threatening behaviour

The Health Minister and Lord Mayor are among the latest public servants to have dealt with death threats following the vaccine mandate being put in place.

POLICE are investigating death threats sent to Darwin’s mayor as more Territory leaders expose the vile abuse sent to them by online trolls.

Kon Vatskalis said he reported the Facebook messages to police after noticing the increasingly violent anti-vax rhetoric a few months ago.

“I have a lot of (Facebook) friends who I am not friends with anymore,” Cr Vatskalis said.

“I am not going to put up with this crap. I will not tolerate people putting out these threats.”

The former NT Health Minister has repeatedly used his private and public Facebook pages to dispel Covid myths and support health measures.

“They understand people will listen to me and they don’t want that,” Cr Vatskalis said.

He said the torrent of abuse he and other NT leaders had received, increased as anti-vaxxers realised they had lost the wider public debate. 

“They pretend to be freedom fighters, it shows how crazy they have gone.” 

It comes as Health Minister Natasha Fyles said she had been subject to threats from the public after the vaccine mandate was brought in.

Ms Fyles confirmed today that she has received the threats and said it was disappointing but not unexpected.

“I think that when we put our hand up to become a member of parliament it’s because we’re active in our communities we want to represent the communities were passionate about, and we don’t expect this type of situation but unfortunately it does come with it,” she said during a press conference today.

“I’ve certainly had over the years of being a member of parliament different threats made to myself, and it’s incredibly concerning, particularly for your family,” she said.

“They don’t choose to live this life, but they’re trying to manage when their parents or their family member is in public life, but it won’t deter us.”

Ms Fyles said she felt well supported by her workplace.

“As much as these threats and this commentary is concerning they have done an outstanding job in making sure that we understand and we’re being well supported,” she said.

It comes after The NT News yesterday reported Chief Minister Michael Gunner and his infant son received death threats via their social media accounts.

Originally published as Vaccine mandate: Natasha Fyles and Kon Vatskalis subject to threatening behaviour