Julian Hill (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm going to choose my words very carefully to avoid any issues of sub judice. Earlier this month, the fixated persons unit of the New South Wales police counterterrorism unit violently arrested a 21-year-old boy in his family home. His mum and dog were injured as he was taken away in handcuffs, and he spent a night in jail. His name is Kristo Langker and he's a producer of the friendlyjordies YouTube channel, a comedic Chaser-esque production created by citizen journalist and professional provocateur Jordan Shanks. The show satirises, comments on, jokes about and critiques Australian politics, with a focus on corruption and holding power to account.

Since his arrest, Kristo has been charged with two offences. The counterterrorism unit that arrested him have charged him with stalking and intimidation of New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro. When you dig a little deeper, was the infraction which has prompted this extreme police action actually the embarrassment of John Barilaro on YouTube? Let's be clear about the facts. Friendlyjordies has created videos accusing the Deputy Premier of corruption, a legitimate endeavour of journalists. John 'Bruz' Barilaro took offence to these claims and commenced civil defamation proceedings, as is his right. Friendlyjordies responded to the lawsuit by dressing up as Luigi and embarrassing Barilaro at Macquarie University at an event. Six weeks later, Kristo was walking home from uni when he happened to walk past the Deputy Premier, turned on his camera and asked him a few times, 'Why are you suing my boss?' before Barilaro got in his car and was driven off. The whole interaction is online. That's it.

Apparently in New South Wales that conduct is alleged to warrant a counterterrorism and fixated persons unit knocking on your door and arresting you in front of your mum. That's now what happens if you approach a New South Wales minister in public twice in two months. Even if Kristo is found guilty as charged, what on earth justified the over-the-top police action? It doesn't matter if you like or dislike friendlyjordies. I'm aware of some of his statements that offend people and which I may not personally agree with, but that doesn't mean a YouTube producer should be violently arrested in his home because he engaged in journalistic behaviour. The threat to free speech and a free press is clear—

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