Prime Minister Albanese Urges De-escalation of Political Discourse Following Alleged Death Threat
BRISBANE, October 4, 2025 - Prime Minister Anthony albanese has called for a reduction in the intensity of political debate after a Queensland man was charged with allegedly threatening to kill him. Norman Dean Lake,
was arrested on Saturday at a property north of Brisbane, accused of making the threat via social media.
Lake has been charged with one count of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill, an offense carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence.
While declining to comment on the specifics of the case due to ongoing court proceedings, Mr. Albanese emphasized the need for respectful disagreement. “I have consistently saeid we need, wherever possible, to turn down the temperature of debate, and to agree and disagree respectfully,” he stated.
The Prime Minister revealed a substantial increase in threats directed towards him, noting the concerns raised by the Director-General of ASIO. “Increasingly, the number of reports that I receive are substantial,” he said, adding that the elevated threat level has impacted his ability to engage with the public.
mr. Albanese expressed his desire to maintain accessibility, citing simple activities like purchasing dog food and walking through public spaces during the campaign. “We don’t want to lose that. It’s a great thing about Australians, and the great thing about our country,” he said.
He drew comparisons to the experiences of public figures in countries like the United states and the United Kingdom, while reaffirming his commitment to free speech. “We have a vibrant democracy here. No-one is trying to stifle free speech,” he said. “We need to show respect for each other, that doesn’t mean agreement, but it does mean behaving in a way which is acceptable.”
Mr. Lake is scheduled to reappear in the brisbane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.