00:00Jordan Patten is facing one count of a terrorism-related offence and today fronted court via audiovisual
00:09link where his matter was first heard here in Newcastle local court.
00:14Now the court was told that the charge that he faces relates to what the magistrate says
00:20was an intention to kill the local Labor MP, the member for Newcastle, Tim Crackenthorpe,
00:27and that was part of his plans in terms of preparing for a terrorism attack.
00:33Now the magistrate said that he was targeted as a member of parliament.
00:37This all unfolded just after midday yesterday here in Newcastle where Mr Crackenthorpe's
00:43office is in the CBD.
00:45Now it was there that staff alerted police and Mr Patten left and headed towards Newcastle
00:53Museum which is around the corner and staff there have told the ABC that he entered and
01:00was asked to leave several times and they then called police and he left and then was
01:05arrested.
01:06Now witnesses have told the ABC that they saw the man who was not identified until today's
01:13court appearance, that he was dressed in tactical gear, a bulletproof vest and wearing a helmet
01:21as well as a body-worn sort of GoPro type camera as he moved between Mr Crackenthorpe's
01:28office and the museum.
01:30Now of course yesterday was also a visit where the Premier, Mr Minns, came to Newcastle and
01:37fortunately Mr Crackenthorpe actually was with Mr Minns elsewhere at Belmont when this
01:43was all unfolding.
01:44So it was the MP's staff who dealt with Mr Patten when he entered that office.
01:50Now today the magistrate who heard the matter said that he thought that there were strong
01:56overtones of mental health issues.
02:00There was no elaboration on that but the matter was then adjourned until August the 21st.
02:06There had initially been a listing for a release application, that didn't happen and the matter
02:11adjourned to August the 21st here in Newcastle.
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