Far‑Right Threat Sydney Man Nathan Ballesty Charged Over Alleged Albo Kidnap Call

Far‑Right Threat: Sydney Man Nathan Ballesty Charged Over Alleged Kidnap Call

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — A 27‑year‑old Sydney man, Nathan Ballesty, has been charged after allegedly posting online calling for the kidnapping of a federal politician, police confirmed on Wednesday.

Ballesty, a resident of Beacon Hill, appeared in Manly Local Court on Monday after being charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). He faces charges of using a carriage service to threaten serious harm, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment, and contravening a section 3LA access order, relating to a police direction to allow access to electronic devices, which carries a maximum penalty of ten years. Authorities said the charges relate to an alleged online post in which Ballesty called for the kidnapping of a federal politician, though law enforcement did not specify which politician was targeted.

The AFP’s National Security Investigations (NSI) team, formed in September 2025 to investigate threats to political figures, conducted a search warrant at Ballesty’s home. Multiple electronic devices were seized for forensic examination as part of the investigation. In a statement, the AFP said that threats against parliamentarians are taken very seriously and that online posts intended to intimidate or incite harm can lead to criminal charges.

Magistrate Ian Guy granted Ballesty strict conditional bail. Under the conditions, he is prohibited from contacting any federal parliamentarians, must adhere to a curfew, is banned from using encrypted messaging apps such as Discord, has surrendered his passport, and is restricted to possessing only a single mobile phone. Ballesty is scheduled to return to court on 3 March 2026.