Accused MP harasser rants outside court after ‘sending politician 10 emails a day for more than two years’

A man accused of sending threatening emails to a federal MP was seen ranting at reporters in an expletive-laden political tirade.

Ronald Dean Munro, 73, fronted Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday after being charged with six counts of using a carriage service in a harassing or offensive way.

Munro, from Elizabeth South in Adelaide’s north, is accused of sending federal MP Matt Burnell at least 10 emails between May 2023 and December 2025.

The prosecution alleged that ‘reasonable persons would regard’ the content of those emails ‘as being, in the circumstances, menacing, harassing or offensive’.

‘I’ve got one thing to say. Don’t f***ing vote Labor,’ Munro told reporters outside the courthouse, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

‘Look at the way the country is. That’s enough, leave me alone. End of subject.’

Reporters asked Munro about the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines which saw her lose both her legs after being mowed down by a car.

‘I talked to my Labor member about that last year. It might happen. Bondi happened. This has happened,’ Munro said.

The court heard Munro’s case is set for trial after prosecutors found that they could not maintain a previous plea deal.

‘We have previously had some negotiations in relation to his offer, but prosecution is presently reconsidering the plea offer put to consolidate the charges,’ the prosecutor said.   

Australian Federal Police allegedly traced the source of the harassing emails to Munro’s property on January 9.

A spokesperson for Burnell’s office at the time said Australians ‘need to be able to disagree respectfully again’ and that ‘we should be better than this as Australians’.

‘Everyone needs to do their part to turn the temperature down and have their say without crossing the line,’ he said.

Munro’s case was adjourned until next month.