Darwin man Jack Malady charged with abusing three Federal politicians in ‘graphic’ emails

A Darwin man who allegedly sent abusive and ‘graphic’ emails to Canberra told a judge he was a ‘changed man’. See why he has been banned from going near any politicians.

Alleged political cyberbully Jack Malady was arrested from his Smith St office on Tuesday — just down the road from the NT parliament. Photo: iStock

A Darwin man’s uncontrolled anger and resentment allegedly spurred him to send “graphic” and abusive emails to three Australian politicians.

Alleged political cyberbully Jack Malady was arrested from his Smith St office on Tuesday — just down the road from the NT parliament — and was charged with using a carriage service to make threats, menace and harass as well as drug possession.

On Wednesday a commonwealth prosecutor alleged Mr Malady’s emails to three federal politicians were “graphic”, with investigators looking to see how widespread his online abuse had been.

“There are further investigations ongoing into a number of other victims who are also members of parliament in other states — not just federal members,” the court heard.

On Wednesday a Commonwealth prosecutor alleged Mr Malady’s emails to three Federal politicians were ‘graphic’, with investigators looking to see how widespread his online abuse had been. iStock image

But the 24-year-old told Judge Greg MacDonald he was a ‘changed man’.

Defence barrister Marty Aust said a lot had changed in Mr Malady’s life since he allegedly sent those emails in January.

The court heard at the time of the alleged offending Mr Malady was dealing with undiagnosed autism spectrum disorder, anxiety and depression, and had spent years living in a container on a property.

Mr Aust said due to his untreated mental health issues he may have struggled to realise the impact he was causing to his alleged victims.

“He was able to understand why this may have attracted police attention, but did not show any emotional understanding or empathy as to the impact on a politician,” Mr Aust said a medical report concluded.

Mr Aust said his client was now accessing mental health treatment and had completed an anger management course.

He said Mr Malady was now living “an ordinary life” with his parents at Giraween and working at a gambling agency..

“There’s all sorts of things that are now completely different to the man that now comes here,” he said.

While Mr MacDonald acknowledged these “stabilising” factors, he remained concerned this would not be an “absolute panacea”.

Mr Malady told the judge: “I’ve spent the last year trying to change myself”.

Mr MacDonald approved bail on the condition that Mr Malady could not contact any politicians — from Federal to local state and territory representatives — and he could not go within 100m of the parliament. Picture: Legislative Assembly of NT

Mr MacDonald approved bail on the condition Mr Malady not contact any politicians — from federal to local, state and territory representatives — and he could not go within 100m of parliament.

Mr Malady was also barred from leaving the Territory, ruining his plans to fly to Sydney for the New Year’s test cricket match.

His matter was adjourned to January 21, 2025.