NT Covid: Anti-vax trolls sent death threats to Chief Minister Gunner’s family

UPDATE: Chief Minister’s family threatened by anti-vaxxers. ‘We are going to hunt you and your family down’.

AT NEARLY one o’clock in the morning a message appeared in the Northern Territory Chief Minister’s Instagram inbox.

“We are going to hunt you and your family down,” the message warned.

The profile, which claimed to be owned by a young Chilean-Australian woman, sent a barrage of abuse to the Instagram account for Mr Gunner’s child.

“People like you and your husband belong in a Dickensian grave where both of yours (sic) can’t breathe.”

The troll then turned her anti-vaccine abuse on their 19-month-old son.

“Better take your ducker (sic) child as well, we couldn’t want a child like yours in this world.”

A copy of the death threat sent to Chief Minister Michael Gunner.

“Better to kill all your offspring so there’s no generation from you evil people.

“You just better watch and wait we don’t catch you on the streets.”

These message were a small glimpse at the abuse sent to NT leaders, politicians, journalists and business people who speak out against the anti-vaxxer movement.

A NT Police spokeswoman said across Australia senior figures including politicians were reporting a rise in threats directed at them due to Covid-related decisions.

On Wednesday a visibly emotional Mr Gunner detailed some of the death threats sent to his family from anti-mandate protesters.

Mr Gunner said he had been told by some that “my kid will be put in a grave”.

It came a day after Speaker Ngaree Ah Kit closed the public galleries of parliament for the rest of sittings over security concerns.

Mr Gunner said the threats had been directed against multiple politicians, but they would not be intimidated by rhetoric.

“We have a job and we’ll do our job,” he said.

“We are dealing with people who unfortunately have gone down the rabbit hole.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner presser on the Covid situation Picture Julianne Osborne

“And they can be both offensive and violent in what they say.”

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said the police were investigating threats against multiple politicians.

“I’m not going to go into the full details of all those things,” Mr Chalker said.

“But suffice to say it’s not exclusive to the Northern Territory.”

A NT PFES spokeswoman said the rising threats of violence and anti-mandate protests triggered a risk assessment by police.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner presser on the Covid situation Picture Julianne Osborne

“NT Police are currently working tirelessly to serve and protect the community in the Northern Territory,” she said.

“Anyone who has concerns about their safety or been the subject of threats should contact police.”

NT Police would not confirm how many politicians had reported death threats to police, or the status of any investigations.

The latest crime statistics have reported a rise in harassment and public nuisance reports and threatening behaviour offences since the start of the pandemic.

In just nine months police have recorded 35 harassment and private nuisance offences, and 84 incidents of threatening behaviour.

In 2020 there were a total of 56 harassment and 112 threatening behaviour offences.

The abuse has not been limited to politicians, with anyone publicly criticising the anti-vaccine, anti-mandate protests opened up to attacks.

A Darwin Veteran and business owner said he had been “slated” “trolled” and “abused” for condemning the anti-mandate protesters, who played the Last Post and protested at the Cenotaph.

Darwin veteran and Mad Snake Cafe owner Sam Weston. Picture Katrina Bridgeford.

Sam Weston told the ABC he received a torrent of abuse after saying the protest was offensive to veterans, including anti-vaxxers spamming his online reviews for his business, Mad Snake Cafe in the CBD.

“You get the normal boofhead abuse,” Mr Weston said.

He called comparisons between the weekly protests and Defence personnel offensive.

“They have got the right to protest, that’s why we did fight for them, but my view is you shouldn’t use the Last Post,” Mr Weston said.

“Don’t compare it to that of a veteran, that’s highly insulting to be honest.

“They’re not fighting for my freedom right now.”

He said he would continue to speak up for veterans, knowing that he would cop abuse from the anti-vaxxers.

“Hopefully they don’t burn my shop down.”

Originally published as NT Covid: Anti-vax trolls sent death threats to Chief Minister Gunner’s family