Beyond a joke: friendlyjordies and the Fixated Persons Investigations Unit

In June 2021, a producer for popular satirical YouTube channel friendlyjordies was arrested in dramatic scenes at his Sydney home by the Fixated Persons Investigations Unit (FPIU) for allegedly stalking and intimidating NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

The arrest sparked a high-profile outcry. Why did the NSW Police Force send counter-terrorism officers to apprehend someone who had just approached the Deputy Premier in public for comment?  Many commentators viewed the incident as an attempt to silence friendlyjordies founder Jordan Shanks, a vocal government critic, who was in the process of being sued for defamation by Barilaro.

Senior police defended the arrest, arguing that the Deputy Premier was the target of an ongoing harassment campaign. Yet they struggled to explain why counter-terrorism officers were necessary and why they had deviated from standard investigative practice.

Written by ANZSOG Research Fellow Marinella Padula, this case highlights many timely issues including the policing of free speech, the protection of public officials, political influence on public agencies and oversight of law enforcement.