An interim control order imposed on a right-wing extremist has been confirmed in the Federal Court.
Tamworth man Wade John Homewood was jailed in February last year on terrorism and firearms offences, and on his release in March this year, was subject to an interim control order.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) successfully applied to have the order confirmed last month, and in his reasons published on Friday, Justice Kennett explained why he agreed with the AFP’s proposal to confirm the order for a year.
Justice Kennett said he was satisfied the order was reasonably necessary, and reasonably appropriate and adapted, to protect the public from a terrorist act or prevent support for or the facilitation of a terrorist act, under Sections 104.4(1)(d)(iii) and (iv) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth),
In July 2022, Homewood pleaded guilty to terrorism and firearm offences contrary to s 80.2C(1) of the Code, and s 40(1) of the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW). He was sentenced to two years and seven months’ imprisonment for terrorism offences, and eight months for the firearms offence. On appeal, the sentence was reduced to two years and four months, and five months respectively.
This was only the fifth prosecution of an offence contrary to s 80.2C of the Code, which carries a maximum penalty of five years, and the third involving right-wing extremist ideology.
Over two years between 2019 and 2021, AFP Operation Drumtochty had gathered evidence of Mr Homewood’s activity on online platforms where he advocated serious violence, including the mass murder of people of colour and of the Jewish and Islamic faiths; the assassination of Australian government leaders; and the lionising of right-wing perpetrators of racially motivated mass killings.
In November 2021, the AFP executed a search warrant at a Tamworth farm where Mr Homewood lived with his parents. Police found firearms, ammunition, and various publications associated with right-wing extremism, including a copy of Mein Kampf and manuals on how to make improvised explosive devices.
Justice Kennett said Corrective Services New South Wales had reported that since his release on March 22, Mr Homewood had declined to engage with services to help radicalised offenders move away from extremism.
“If Mr Homewood’s online posts prior to his arrest had been made only for his own gratification, it would be natural to expect him to seek to demonstrate that he has left behind that phase of his life in order to free himself from the burdensome restrictions of the ICO,” he said.
“This has not occurred. His recent behaviour provides a further indication that he was serious in the views and aspirations that he expressed prior to his arrest.
“Mr Homewood appears to have engaged only minimally with services that would assist him to break away from extremist ideologies and from his previously expressed support for terrorist activity and continues to be antipathetic and resentful towards government.
“This suggests that his opinions have not shifted. It indicates that the level of risk that he poses to the safety of the community has not diminished.”
Justice Kennett made the order in the form proposed by the AFP. Conditions included a monitoring device, a specified premise curfew, and a prohibition on:
- being in specified areas (including mosques, prisons, airports and firing ranges);
- joining specified right-wing groups;
- making public appearances;
- travelling overseas;
- possessing weapons;
- accessing or sharing documents related to terrorist acts, right-wing propaganda;
- contacting prisoners or other known terrorists; and
- using any devices, or phone or internet services, not approved by the AFP.
The confirmed control order, to which Mr Homewood consented, will remain in force until 19 March 2025.
Share this article