‘Crossed the line’: Aggressive social media attack on minister in the hands of police

Updated July 31, 2026 — 6:01pm,first published 5:12pmA series of social media comments targeting NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty are being investigated by NSW Police, with the Labor MP saying the threats of violence have “crossed the line”.The Facebook page of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF) was filled with numerous remarks about Moriarty. On Thursday, SFF MP Mark Banasiak denied knowledge of the malicious comments after they were put to him, committing to reporting them to police. Moriarty has also been attacked on her own Facebook page.NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty says police are investigating threatening online comments.Dominic LorrimerThe comments were posted after Moriarty announced a pilot program in the state’s north-west, requiring public and private landowners to work together to eradicate feral pigs. Individuals who refused to co-operate could face fines of up to $220,000 and corporations $440,000.Moriarty said on Thursday the threatening comments from the day before had been reported to NSW Police. Those attacks happened frequently and seemed to be “getting worse”, the upper house MP said, but the latest incident had “crossed the line”.“Threatening to shoot, hang or kill a member of parliament because you disagree with them is not a democratic expression of free speech, it is an attack on democracy,” she wrote to the Herald.“I’ve never asked for an easy ride. The nature of politics, particularly in NSW, is at its best when there’s robust debate. Politics is at its best when there’s tough contest over the ideas and policies to take us forward. That’s the nature of democracy.“But there’s a line. And right now, that line is being crossed.”Asked earlier on ABC radio whether her security detail had been strengthened in response to the threats, Moriarty said her team was working with NSW Police. A spokesman for NSW Police said they were aware of the posts and inquiries were ongoing.Like all other MPs, Banasiak had a responsibility as a public official to monitor his social media and “do better”, Moriarty said.“He is now aware of it,” she said.In an interview with the ABC on Thursday, Banasiak described the response to the pilot program as “vitriolic”, saying farmers were incensed by the lack of clarity around compliance, particularly the threat of Local Land Services flying over properties.After a series of sexist, misogynistic and violent threads on the party’s Facebook page were put to him, Banasiak denied having knowledge of the contents, disavowed them as unacceptable and said he would refer them to police.“We’re not going to go blow-by-blow with you on these. When we see these comments, we delete them and [take] appropriate action,” he said. “If what you’re reporting to me is correct, and I’ll see those comments, then I’ll deal with it appropriately.”Premier Chris Minns labelled the venom levelled against his minister as “appalling”, saying she should be allowed to do her job without vilification.“Twenty or 30 years ago, you never saw that sort of abuse; people would be too ashamed to label someone like that,” he said.“Now they feel like they’ve got impunity to do it online, and it’s disgraceful.”Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. From our partners