Former Young Liberal turned neo-Nazi Stefan Eracleous has been charged with allegedly harassing Senator Lidia Thorpe, as authorities warn of a sharp rise in “hateful and menacing” material targeting federal politicians.
Federal police allege the 32-year-old sent Senator Thorpe “a raft of menacing emails” and made an abusive phone call.
Officers raided his Mernda home on Friday morning, arresting him and seizing electronic devices and “offensive material”.
He also allegedly defaced a flag at Senator Thorpe’s Collingwood electorate office.
Eracleous, who held strong ties to the neo-Nazi group The National Socialist Network (NSN) led by Thomas Sewell, has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence, an offence carrying a maximum five-year jail term.
He is one of three men arrested this week by the AFP’s National Security Investigations team for allegedly targeting politicians.
The arrests included high-ranking NSN member Joel Davis, accused of urging supporters to “rhetorically rape” independent MP Allegra Spender, and a third man who allegedly made online threats against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“These three incidents are examples of the challenges we face in combating those who are seeking to damage our social cohesion,” AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Matthew Gale said.
“There are current and emerging individuals and groups who are eroding our country’s social fabric by advocating hatred, fear and humiliation, and the AFP … is putting them on notice.”
Referrals to the AFP for threats against politicians have risen 63 per cent in four years, with at least 951 recorded in 2024–25.
The surge follows public condemnation of recent neo-Nazi activity, including a rally outside NSW Parliament that Spender described as “appalling”, adding: “This group is seeking to spread vile hatred against Jewish people and undermine our great Australian multiculturalism. Their use of a Hitler Youth slogan is chilling.”
Eracleous will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court next week.
Source: Herald Sun.
