A 47-year-old man has been charged in relation to a series of disturbing flyers targeting LGBTQIA+ community members in Perth since 2024.
Content warning: this article discusses harassment, doxing, offensive statements, and homophobia.
“Detectives from the State Security Investigation Group have charged a 47-year-old man as a result of their investigation into the distribution of leaflets containing alleged obscene material,” the Western Australian Police Force said.
“Between July 2024 and March 2026, approximately forty reports were made to police pertaining to the distribution of thousands of leaflets throughout the Perth metropolitan area.“
The man is due to appear in court in July
“State Security Investigation Group and Perth Detectives initiated an investigation, culminating in the arrest of the accused,” they said.
“It will be alleged the distributed leaflets contained indecent commentary and images of adult men within the LGBTQI+ community.
“Some of the leaflets also contained alleged obscene images.”
On Wednesday, 29 April 2026, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Gosnells and electronic devices were seized.
A 47-year-old Gosnells man has been charged with ‘5 x Leave in or Upon any Place an Indecent or Obscene Article’.
The man is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on 15 July 2026.
The investigation is ongoing, and police urge anyone with information relating to this matter or any similar incidents to contact Crime Stoppers via www.crimestopperswa.com.au or by calling 1800 333 000.
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Flyers have included victims’ names and addresses
First reported by OUTinPerth, the flyers contain false and defamatory claims about individuals within Perth’s LGBTQIA+ community, using photographs taken from social media without consent.
People reported receiving the flyers in suburbs including Subiaco, West Leederville, Highgate, Mount Lawley, Maylands, Bayswater and Victoria Park.
At the start of the year, versions of the flyer reportedly included an image of an unidentified man alongside a second photo depicting an intimate act.
Other versions of the flyers reportedly shared people’s images, names and addresses.
One victim told OUTinPerth they initially reported the flyers to police earlier this year, but officers advised them there was little they could do.
After months of continued targeting and doxing, the victim later attended another police station, where police progressed the matter further.
Long-promised law reform against vilification is overdue
Community groups and advocates have described the flyer campaign as deeply disturbing, with Vic Park Pride urging anyone who receives the material to report it to police.
LGBTIQA+ rights group Just.Equal has described the campaign as a hate crime, calling for improved police training, specialist liaison officers and better recording of hate-motivated offences.
Advocates have also argued that the incidents highlight the need for long-promised law reform in Western Australia, including stronger protections against vilification and discrimination.
In February, the state’s Attorney-General, Tony Buti, told The Sunday Times that he was “appalled” by the content of the flyers, saying the Government would introduce new Equal Opportunity legislation soon.
The flyer investigation comes amid broader concern about anti-LGBTIQA+ activity in Perth, following recent reports of anti-trans stickers appearing in Subiaco and surrounding areas.
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