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Updated July 31, 2026 \u2014 6:01pm,first published 5:12pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n A 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 \u201ccrossed the line\u201d.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The comments were posted after Moriarty announced a pilot program in the state\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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 \u201cgetting worse\u201d, the upper house MP said, but the latest incident had \u201ccrossed the line\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThreatening 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,\u201d she wrote to the Herald.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never asked for an easy ride. The nature of politics, particularly in NSW, is at its best when there\u2019s robust debate. Politics is at its best when there\u2019s tough contest over the ideas and policies to take us forward. That\u2019s the nature of democracy.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there\u2019s a line. And right now, that line is being crossed.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Like all other MPs, Banasiak had a responsibility as a public official to monitor his social media and \u201cdo better\u201d, Moriarty said.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cHe is now aware of it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n In an interview with the ABC on Thursday, Banasiak described the response to the pilot program as \u201cvitriolic\u201d, saying farmers were incensed by the lack of clarity around compliance, particularly the threat of Local Land Services flying over properties.<\/p>\n After a series of sexist, misogynistic and violent threads on the party\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not going to go blow-by-blow with you on these. When we see these comments, we delete them and [take] appropriate action,\u201d he said. \u201cIf what you\u2019re reporting to me is correct, and I\u2019ll see those comments, then I\u2019ll deal with it appropriately.\u201d<\/p>\n Premier Chris Minns labelled the venom levelled against his minister as \u201cappalling\u201d, saying she should be allowed to do her job without vilification.<\/p>\n \u201cTwenty or 30 years ago, you never saw that sort of abuse; people would be too ashamed to label someone like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cNow they feel like they\u2019ve got impunity to do it online, and it\u2019s disgraceful.\u201d<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>. <\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"NSW](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1243385d15815f6e4a764d7d2459a480725d4231.jpeg\")
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty says police are investigating threatening online comments.Dominic Lorrimer<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c1bdca4b7347a3c2b64db2ab127aefb54f00cd8b40663e28f4f5f9bdb5ad3e0a.png\")
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