Robert John McDonald pleads not guilty to online threats to MPs

Robert John McDonald remains on bail after entering not guilty pleas in Tamworth Local Court on Monday.

The now 59-year-old is alleged to have used Facebook to post online threats to members of parliament, including the Prime Minister, late last year.

McDonald was unrepresented in court but has formally entered not guilty pleas to charges of using a carriage service - namely the internet - to menace, harass or offend between 6.30am and 7am on December 11, last year, in South Tamworth; as well as cultivating a prohibited plant when police raided the home between 7.30am and 9.45am on January 12.

Magistrate Julie Soars continued McDonald's bail and the case returns to court in mid-April after a brief of evidence is served.

Last month, he was warned to stay off Facebook and social media as part of his bail conditions, and police were ordered serve a copy of the search warrant used to raid his home.

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McDonald was charged after a month-long investigation into comments on social media, namely Facebook, came under notice by police in December.

The Fixated Persons Investigation Unit then took over the police probe.

The unit zeroed in on the comments which police claim threatened Australian parliamentary officials, or members of parliament.

Officers then used a search warrant to raid a home on the morning of January 12 in South Tamworth, where they seized what they claimed was three cannabis plants, as well as a number of electronic devices.

McDonald was arrested and charged, and then granted bail by police.

As part of his bail, McDonald must stay out of trouble and be of good behaviour; live at a nominated address; and not use Facebook or any form of social media.