Andrew Thaler: serial political candidate avoids intimidation conviction

Andrew Thaler, a serial independent political candidate, has avoided an intimidation conviction at the Queanbeyan District Court. Read the story to find out why.

A political wannabe has avoided an intimidation conviction in the Queanbeyan District Court.

Andrew Thaler pleaded guilty to intimidation on Thursday over a 2018 incident where he intimidated a staff member at the Cooma Rural Fire Service headquarters.

He pleaded not guilty to a second charge of remaining in a building to commit an indictable offence.

Yet when Mr Thaler appeared at court on Monday, District Court Judge Robyn Tupman chose to not convict the would-be politician.

Ms Tupman described Mr Thaler’s actions as at the very lowest end of objective seriousness for intimidation,

The judge didn’t hold back in criticising individuals and groups which contributed to the minor offence dragging on for over four years in the courts.

“Police overcharged (Mr Thaler), the Director of Public Prosecutions did not exercise discretion,” she said.

“(Thaler) elected for a jury trial.

“It’s an absurd situation that this is being sentenced four years after the event.

“It's a stale offence.”

Serial independent candidate Andrew Thaler has avoided an intimidation conviction for a “stale offence” at the Queanbeyan District Court.

She also described RFS staff calling the police during the time of the event an “over-reaction” because Mr Thaler left the building when asked.

Ms Tupman said Mr Thaler’s guilty plea had utilitarian value as it meant a jury trial did not go ahead.

During submissions Mr Thaler’s Lawyer, Mark Davis from Xenophon Davis asked for the case to be dismissed.

Ms Tupman told the court the offence was proved but a conviction would not be recorded.

She said her decision shouldn’t be seen as an endorsement of Mr Thalers actions and said it was not okay to intimidate staff members.

“(My judgement) is an exercise of discretion,” she said.

Ms Tupman told the court at times Mr Thaler is “his own enemy”

“Mr Thaler put himself at risk by acting like this,” she said.

“ Frequently he is unnecessarily blunt and inpatient.”

In Saturday’s election the Australian Electoral Commission reports Mr Thaler received 1684 votes translating to almost two per cent of the votes cast in Eden-Monaro.

He previously ran in the NSW Monaro by-election in February this year, and has run in state and federal elections in 2019 and 2016.