Plea offer reconsidered for man accused of harassing federal MP Matt Burnell

An Adelaide man accused of sending multiple harassing emails to a federal MP has had a plea offer reconsidered by prosecutors due to recent events. Ronald Dean Munro, 74, was scheduled to enter pleas in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday to 10 counts of using a carriage service in a harassing or offensive way.

Prosecutors told the court they were re-thinking their position on the matter. "We have previously had some negotiations in relation to this matter, but prosecution is presently reconsidering the plea offer put to consolidate the charges and is not presently in a position to maintain our previously foreshadowed agreement," the prosecutor said.

Munro allegedly sent "menacing" emails to federal MP Matt Burnell, the member for Spence, between May 2023 and December 2025. According to court documents, the emails were sent to Mr Burnell's official email address on several occasions.

Munro's defence lawyer, James Caldicott, told the court that he was in the process of taking instructions from his client about the proposed plea deal when he was informed about the prosecution's change of position. "Dynamically things have changed in recent times which has caused a reconsideration by the Commonwealth director as to how matters of this type ought to proceed," Mr Caldicott said.

He said the matter was now "destined for trial". Mr Munro did not enter any pleas and the matter was adjourned for two weeks.

Outside court, Mr Munro said he would be pleading not guilty to the charges.

At the time of his arrest in February, a detective said the federal agency took all allegations relating to the safety and security of Australian parliamentarians "seriously". "The AFP supports freedom of speech and political expression, but does not tolerate criminal behaviour, including threats and harassment," he said.

The AFP said no further comment could be made as the matter was before the courts.