A Queensland schoolboy was charged after allegedly beginning preparations to launch an attack on a political figure. According to abc_au, a teenager was accused of planning a terror attack in Brisbane and allegedly wanted to target the Liberal National Party over its nuclear policy. In contrast, skynews.com.au reported that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese offered support to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton after reports that Dutton was the alleged target of a terror plot by a Queensland schoolboy, and that the 16‑year‑old was allegedly planning to launch an attack on Dutton at his home north of Brisbane using a drone. Skynews.com.au also said the teenager was charged with purchasing materials to make explosives and testing homemade explosives in preparation for the planned attack.

In Melbourne, a 17‑year‑old was arrested on March 24 after counter‑terrorism authorities were tipped off that he had allegedly ordered a custom IS flag from China. Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police raided an inner‑north housing commission unit where the teenager lived with his parents and five siblings. Arresting officers discovered a cache of extremist material on a USB drive, a phone and a computer belonging to the teenager. The teenager had allegedly downloaded a cache of violent terrorist material, amassed bomb‑making manuals and accessed Islamic State and al‑Qaeda propaganda while researching nearby synagogues and Melbourne’s busiest intersection.

Both cases involved the seizure of materials that could be used to produce explosives, and the teenagers face charges related to the preparation of terrorist acts.