Australian man charged over 'offensive' calls to overseas MPs' offices from NZ

An Australian man has been charged by New Zealand and Australian police for allegedly making threatening phone calls to electorate offices while based in New Zealand.Australian Federal Police said they began investigating the 42-year-old in June, when he flew from the Gold Coast to Auckland."Over a two-week period, the man allegedly contacted electoral offices in NSW [New South Wales], Queensland and Tasmania on multiple occasions and made threats of self-harm and harming others," they said.Police in New Zealand said they arrested the "Australian national" in Auckland after being notified of the allegations against him by their Trans-Tasman counterparts on 26 June.Acting Senior Sergeant Craig Burrow, of Auckland City's Criminal Investigation Branch, said the calls were of an "offensive and threatening nature to the electorate office of an Australian federal and state member of Parliament".The man was convicted of offensive use of a telephone in the Auckland District Court on 19 August, Burrow said.The next day, he was arrested again - this time at Sydney Airport, after flying back from New Zealand. Australian police said they seized two mobile phones, books, and a passport.He appeared before the New South Wales Bail Division Court the following day, facing one charge of using a carriage service to make a threat to cause serious harm and three counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.He was refused bail and is due to appear at NSW's Downing Centre Local Court in October.Immigration NZ would not confirm whether the man was on its radar at any point during his visit, or whether he remained in Auckland during the two months he was here, saying it would need a privacy waiver from him to comment on the case.Australian Police also declined to provide further information, saying the matter was before the courts.In New Zealand, the Parliamentary Service has said threats against politicians have been increasing, with female MPs more likely to be targeted than their male counterparts.