Queer Adelaide Campaigner Mat Monti Fears For Safety After Home Address Posted Online
Image: Image: Facebook
Adelaide Park Lands Association president Mat Monti has described a “terrifying experience” after someone published their home address and photographs of their building in a social media comment.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Monti said the disclosure followed sustained abuse during their campaign to protect Adelaide’s parklands, including death threats and objects thrown from passing cars.
They have reported the incident to police; however, police advised no offence had been committed.
Mat Monti raises concerns with police over safety
“Overnight an individual made a comment on one of my social media posts attacking me and sharing my home address with photos of my building,” Monti wrote online.
“The incident has been reported to SAPOL, but no further action has been taken” they continued.
Monti, who is queer and trans, told ABC News that the comment also contained homophobic messaging. The broadcaster reported on October 29 that it had seen the post.
“I’ve copped all sorts of abuse, the typical online abuse,” they told the ABC.
“Unfortunately people have targeted me because I am queer and trans and they’ve commented on that to their heart’s content.”
“I’ve been called many things, I’ve had things thrown at me from passing cars while we’ve been protesting at the North Adelaide Golf Course, it’s the scariest thing that’s happened so far” they continued.
SA Police confirmed to the ABC that they had received a report concerning a photograph of a person’s house shared online with abusive messaging.
“The person was advised that no offences had been committed and no further action would be taken by police,” the police statement said.
In their Facebook statement, Monti described the publication of their address as an escalation beyond the harassment they had already experienced.
“This has been a terrifying experience. I’ve endured a lot of abuse during this campaign,” they wrote.
“Online abuse, death threats, and having things thrown at me from passing cars. But to have someone find out where I live and post it online is the worst abuse yet.”
Monti confirmed they had contacted SAPOL, but that no further action had followed.
Federal law already contains an offence covering the publication or distribution of personal information using a carriage service where reasonable people would regard the conduct, in all the circumstances, as menacing or harassing. Residential addresses are expressly included.
The existence of that provision does not establish that an offence occurred in this case. The police statement quoted by the ABC did not explain the assessment against federal doxxing laws.
Despite the experience, Monti maintained they are committed to continue their advocacy.
“I don’t intend to let this stop me fighting for the Park Lands or the values I hold.”
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