Letter threatens minority groups ahead of Australia Day

NSW Police are investigating an anonymous letter sent to a Sydney mosque threatening co-ordinated violence against minority groups on Australia Day.

The correspondence was received by Lakemba Mosque on Thursday, the Islamophobia Register Australia said in a social media post. The group noted the letter had been sent during a period of heightened political tension as federal MPs debated the government’s Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.

Obtained by this masthead, the anonymous, four-page letter calls for “revenge” to be taken against “various groups” including Muslims and Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders. The letter calls for public violence against those who attend Invasion Day rallies.

The correspondence comes just a month after the Bondi terror attack and days before the Australia Day long weekend. Concerns about rising antisemitism and Islamophobia have become acute, alongside the proliferation of anti-immigrant sentiment in the nation’s politically charged environment.

“This letter is an unambiguous call to violence and murder,” said Mariam Veiszadeh, the chair of Islamophobia Register Australia.

“When irresponsible political rhetoric goes unchecked, it emboldens extremists. Urging people to be ‘beaten to death in the street’ is a serious and immediate threat to public safety. This letter demonstrates how dehumanising political narratives can translate into explicit calls for violence.”

The letter names various state and federal political leaders, including NSW Premier Chris Minns, his Victorian counterpart Jacinta Allan and federal Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. The correspondence also veers into nonsensical numerology.

“All good Australians must defend our National Day. When the traitors come out protesting calling it Invasion Day make sure that you are ready to attack them in groups,” the letter states.

NSW Multicultural Minister Steve Kamper said in a statement the government was aware of the flyer and NSW Police were investigating.

“The government is aware that a flyer containing hate speech inciting violence around Australia Day is currently circulating. This conduct targeting specific ethnic, religious and political groups is abhorrent,” he said. “Hatred and intimidation have no place in NSW.

“As the premier said at the National Day of Mourning event last night, we must unabashedly take pride in the parts of Australian life that are intrinsically part of our character and our country – democracy, freedom, respect and equality. Should someone refuse these values, then Australia is not the country for you.”

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