Mark McGowan says vile ‘death, rape threats’ from anti-vaxxers behind closure of Premier’s Rockingham office

Anti-vaxxer extremists have forced the “indefinite closure” of Premier Mark McGowan’s Rockingham office, with his staff allegedly subjected to vile rape threats. Mr McGowan confirmed the closure this afternoon and said it was “threatening, intimidating, disgusting and disgraceful”. “There’s been death threats, there’s been threats to rape my staff, there’s been people trying to bomb my office, someone tried to turn up with an armoured car with a machine gun on the top,” Mr McGowan said. The Premier said it was unfair to target people’s staff and their families. “Unfortunately, that’s the way these people are conducting themselves,” he said. “I just ask them to stop and just act like reasonable human beings.” Mr McGowan also slammed anti-vaxxers for attacking media and politicians, after The West Australian’s investigations reporter Annabel Hennessy was bullied online for her report on a police officer accused of spreading COVID misinformation. The report detailed how Chantal Uren said she had a “TIA mini stroke” weeks after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. She went on to discourage others from getting the jab on her Facebook page - where she had posted photos in her police uniform. Mr McGowan called the threats “un-Australian”. “This sort of language, abuse and threatening behaviour is causing immense distress and harm,” he said. “I’d just urge all those people acting like that to stop. A lot of it is unlawful. A lot of it is criminal.” The recent attacks on the Premier are not isolated. They come after Meadow Springs man James Tioro was charged with taking an armoured vehicle to Mr McGowan’s Rockingham electorate office in an attempt to cause fear. Mr Tioro was said to have been on top of the Ferret Scout Car with a pick axe. The Premier’s personal phone number was also leaked and led to a bombardment of text messages and voicemails. He received so much abuse it reportedly filled his entire message bank. Anti-vaxxers have also turned-up to his Rockingham family home to protest jab mandates. The Premier said the attacks would not deter him from implementing COVID jab work mandates. Volunteer firiers were the latest vocation told to roll-up or quit the brigade. Mr McGowan on Tuesday said the behaviours of some anti-vaxxers were “crazy and lunatic” after images emerged of protesters in Victoria trying to hang a fake Dan Andrews. Protesters said they looked forwarded to seeing the Victorian Premier “dance on the end of a rope”. They also chanted “kill Dan Andrews” and “hang Dan Andrews”. Speaking after Mr McGowan’s office was closed on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said authorities would not tolerate “outrageous behaviour”. Mr Dawson said they were taking reports very seriously and a number of people had been charged for past offences. He said it was OK for people to express themselves in a democratic way, but declared some of the extremists were crossing that threshold and committing criminal offences. Mr Dawson said threats against the Premier dated back to January, and also revealed both himself and Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson had received abuse for their advocacy on the importance of vaccines. He said there were adequate security personnel protecting the Premier following the string of abuse.