The political landscape in Canberra was rocked today by an early-morning announcement from Attorney-General model-putrid that Commonwealth Party leader 12MaxWild would be referred to the Australian Federal Police over a claim that he violated the Criminal Code Act 1995.

In a detailed statement, the Attorney-General alleged that, as a Commonwealth public official, 12MaxWild committed an offence by making an unwarranted demand with menaces against New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, with the intention of obtaining a gain. If true, this would constitute a violation of Section 139.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995, and carry a penalty of 12 years' imprisonment.

The offence concerns text messages that 12MaxWild allegedly sent to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, published on June 10 by Prime Minister TheSensibleCentre. The text message to Ardern reads as follows:

Sign the deal or CANZIRES will be vetoed immediately and we will place tariffs on your goods.

The CANZIRES deal was negotiated by TheSensibleCentre, and would establish a free trade and movement agreement between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa. This deal notably did not involve the UK, who refused to support the deal over its lack of a military component. It was a deal the Commonwealth Party, led by 12MaxWild, refused to support, and 12MaxWild confirmed publicly that he would be "entering preliminary negotiations with the CANZUK nations this arvo".

After the text message was publicly revealed, TheSensibleCentre removed 12MaxWild from his government positions, labeling the comments "bullying diplomacy", and calling the behaviour "disgusting" and "pathetic". At the time, Attorney-General model-putrid also harshly condemned the actions, calling them "shocking, disgusting, and appaling", and saying "they must disqualify him from holding senior office ever again."

However, an article from the Commonwealth Times painted a different view of the matter, suggesting that the text messages were sent by an "aide with rumoured Socialist Party sympathies", and alleging the PM "seized the opportunity to betray Max behind his back".

In the early-morning statement published by the Attorney-General, it is stated that "the Attorney-General has confirmed with the Prime Minister of New Zealand that these comments were made by 12MaxWild, and is therefore confident that he has violated the Criminal Code Act 1995", with a text message sent by Ardern cited as proof.

In it, the New Zealand Prime Minister confirms that 12MaxWild convened a quorum of the CANZUK nations, and says she was "extremely disappointed to see the former DPM back the UK's attempts to turn CANZUK into a military alliance", stating she withdrew herself from the negotiations. Ardern then said she later recieved a text message from 12MaxWild "expressing that CANZUK would be passed [...] thus leaving NZ with tariffs on our goods unless I returned to the table and signed the deal." She additionally confirmed that she later recieved a phone call from 12MaxWild claiming the message was from a Socialist Party aide.

For her part, the Attorney-General has taken this text as proof that 12MaxWild sent that text message, and therefore violated the law. She has stated "it is the view of me and my department that 12MaxWild has committed a deeply serious crime, and he should be held accountable for it."

These are allegations that 12MaxWild, however, continues to deny. In a statement to Pitchfork News, he labelled the referral a "highly anti-democratic move [in] attempting to prosecute the member of an opposing political party just days out from an election", adding he may refer the Attorney-General to the ICAC. The former deputy Prime Minister said "even if I did send these messages, which I dis (sic) not as it was a disgruntled former aide who was responsible, I would not be in breach of any laws."

In regards for evidence to his claim, 12MaxWild pointed to the facts that "it was a text message despite us always negotiating in person", and also to his later phone call to the New Zealand PM that proved he was "not making up on the spot".

If 12MaxWild is charged for this offence, while it will not prevent him from running for office, it will likely serve as a significant hit to his Commonwealth Party, and if he is convicted he will be unable to run for office.

- Alison Brooks, Pitchfork News