Man accused of making threats against MP says he stands for ‘Team Australia’ after court appearance

A man facing jail time for allegedly threatening to kill a federal politician caused a stir after leaving court for the first time.“Team Australia, that’s what I stand for, nothing else,” he called out.Gregory Willimas Tait leaving at the Parramatta local court in Sydney. Photograph: Flavio Brancaleone/AAPGreg William Tait, 43, appeared in Parramatta local court in Sydney’s west on Wednesday after being charged with making threatening phone calls to an MP’s office.While his court appearance passed without fuss, Tait reacted in disbelief to the media waiting outside.In an apparent joke, he called his case the biggest story in the country when asked why he allegedly made the threatening calls.Tait was accused of making multiple phone calls to the politician’s office before staff alerted police on 16 December.Australian Federal Police searched his western Sydney home and seized electronic devices.The Greystanes man has not entered a plea and told the court he was seeking legal advice. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison after being charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence.Sydney eastern suburbs politicians, including independent federal MP Allegra Spender and the NSW opposition leader, Kellie Sloane, were the subject of alleged inflammatory, misogynistic and violent threats after condemning a neo-Nazi rally outside NSW parliament in November.In December, a man was charged after several online threats were allegedly made to kill the federal communications minister, Anika Wells.Later that month, a 27-year-old Sydney man was arrested after allegedly threatening to kidnap Anthony Albanese in online posts.The AFP received 951 referrals or threats against parliamentarians in the 2024-25 financial year, rising 63% over the past four years.“The AFP supports freedom of speech and political expression, but any criminal behaviour, including threats and harassment, will not be tolerated,” senior federal officer Matthew Gale said in November.Tait will return to court on 28 January.