The murder of two police officers by an individual involved in the sovereign citizenship movement has highlighted the darker violent potential of conspiracy theories. Stephen Hill asked online extremism specialist Dr Kaz Ross of the University of Tasmania to provide an overview of the sovereign citizen movement and the threat it can pose to human safety and to the working of social institutions.

Image: Shutterstock – Distraught looking conspiracy believer in suit and tin foil hat – Knipsdesign

Produced By: Stephen Hill

Featured In Story: Dr Kaz Ross, University of Tasmania, School of Humanities

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 27 August 2025