Counter-terrorism team steps in after Federal MP for Wentworth's children named in abusive email

Updated

NSW counter-terrorism police are investigating a homophobic email about federal member for Wentworth, Kerryn Phelps, which names her children.

Key points: Abusive, anti-Semitic emails have been circulating about Dr Phelps for at least seven months

The latest email targeting her is homophobic, and it also names her children

The NSW Police Counter Terrorism Command will assist local police to try to locate the individual or group circulating the emails



It is the latest in a string of abusive and misleading emails circulated about the independent MP since the by-election last year.

Dr Phelps went to NSW police earlier this week after an email was distributed which stated "the LGBT are no better than pigs and dogs".

"The thing that made me really alarmed this week was that they actually mentioned my children by name," Dr Phelps told the ABC.

"My family is concerned that there's been an escalation in the content, particularly with my family members being named."

A NSW police spokeswoman told the ABC officers from its Counter Terrorism Command would assist local police and analysts to try and locate the individual or group circulating the emails.

The spokeswoman said the Fixated Persons Investigations Unit had also been advised.

Dr Phelps said at least 10 emails had been circulated about her in the past seven months.

"They're homophobic, they're anti-Semitic, they're quite disturbing in their content," she said.

Do you know more about this story? Email investigations@abc.net.au

"Some people are getting two or three a day and they're contacting me to say 'Well, what can you do about it?'.

"There's no question that this individual or group is trying to affect the vote on Saturday.

"They're saying I've withdrawn, I'm not valid as a candidate, they're saying I'm in jail, they're saying frankly all sorts of crazy stuff, but their aim is to turn voters away from me."

Dr Phelps said she had been frustrated by what she said was a lack of response to her complaints to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

"I was disappointed that the AFP closed down the investigation initially, just after the by-election and I haven't really had much of a response to these emails," she said.

"They certainly don't seem to be as concerned as the local police are, and I would like to have seen a lot more energetic response from the AFP".

Sharma's team passed on investigation details to AFP

Liberal Candidate for the seat of Wentworth, Dave Sharma, said he had hired cyber security experts to look into the emails.

In a statement, Mr Sharma said they had located servers which were hosting the emails, and had them shut down.

"The perpetrator, who appears to be a single individual, has changed servers multiple times, usually signing up for free trials in order not to disclose payment and other identifying details," the statement said.

It said they had identified a number of email addresses and phone numbers believed to be associated with the perpetrator, and they had passed these details on to the Australian Federal Police.

Mr Sharma has previously condemned the "inciteful" and "divisive" emails, which he had also referred to the AFP.

There is no suggestion the emails had anything to do with the Liberal Party or its candidate, Mr Sharma.

Dr Phelps said she had also raised her concerns with a senior staffer in the Prime Minister's Office this week.

"The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said they'd get back to me. I haven't heard back, which is why I went to the local police," she said.

The PMO did not respond to the ABC's requests for a comment.

"Clearly this individual or group does not want me to be re-elected and there is no place for this kind of intimidation in our democracy," Dr Phelps said.



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Please note your information will be handled in accordance with this This federal election, the ABC is digging into how political messages are being crafted to influence your votes.We're collecting texts, emails, robocalls, social media posts, memes, pamphlets, billboards, letters or even posters and graffiti you have spotted in your neighbourhood.Please submit any material you've spotted in the form below.Please note your information will be handled in accordance with this privacy statement

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-elections, elections, wentworth-2648, nsw

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