Harrington Park man allegedly sent online threats to senator Kristina Keneally

A southwest Sydney man will face court later this year for allegedly sending online threats to an Australian senator. Kristina Keneally confirms she was the politician referred to in the case.

A Macarthur man has been charged after allegedly sending online threats to senator Kristina Keneally.

A 29-year-old man from Harrington Park and a 41-year-old woman from Maitland have been served court attendance notices following threats made against an Australian Senator via a social media messaging service.

The man and woman are expected to face Sydney Central Local Court on April 13.

“It will be alleged in court that the man and woman were responsible for sending two separate threatening messages on November 23, 2021 which threatened or advocated violent acts,” an AFP statement said.

“AFP investigators executed search warrants at their respective homes on today and seized a mobile phone for further examination from the man’s Harrington Park residence.”

Labor Senator Kristina Keneally at a press conference in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Kristina Keneally appeared on Sky News, and confirmed that the senator is her.

‘Yes, I have seen that statement and I am aware of that situation,’ she said.

“The matter is before the courts and I’ll be limited in what I can say.

“But I can tell you today that senator is, in fact, me.’

She thanked the federal police for taking threats to parliamentarians seriously.

The man has been charged with threatening to cause harm to a Commonwealth public official, contrary to section 147.2(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years imprisonment.

The woman has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, contrary to section 474.17(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for this offence is five years imprisonment.