Man filmed hurling abuse at Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce charged with threatening AFP cop

A man has been charged with threatening an Australian Federal Police officer during a tense roadside confrontation involving Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.

A man has been charged with threatening an Australian Federal Police officer during a tense roadside confrontation involving Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

Shocking footage captured the irate voter hurling abuse and profanities on the side of the New England Highway, between Armidale and Tamworth, on Friday.

An AFP spokesman confirmed the man, 52, had been charged with threatening to cause harm to a Commonwealth public official and failure to comply with bail conditions.

The man, who was filmed hurling abuse at Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce and an AFP officer on the side of the New England Highway last week, was arrested and charged by the AFP at the weekend.

He was arrested at his New South Wales home on Sunday by officers from the specialised investigative Taskforce Operation Wilmot – a unit set up to protect the security of high-office holders and parliamentarians during the Federal Election.

Police will allege the man verbally threatened an AFP officer and adopted a fighting stance during the incident.

Mr Joyce (pictured) was in a car that had pulled on the side of the road when the confrontation unfolded.

The man was refused police bail and made a brief appearance at Tamworth Local Court on Monday.

“The AFP supports political expression and freedom of speech, however, when it leads to disruption, harassment, intimidation, threatening behaviour and damage to property, it can reach the threshold of a criminal offence,” AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Jeremy Staunton said.

“Politicians, candidates and the people who work with them should be able to do their jobs safely and we will not tolerate criminal behaviour.”