A man who describes himself as "one of the kindest people in the community" flew across the country to Canberra "specifically to flog the Treasurer", a court has heard.
Ian Stewart Mellowship pleaded guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday to two counts of threatening to harm Josh Frydenberg because of the Treasurer's conduct or status as a public official.
"Yeah, guilty, but I was talking about his conduct, not his status," Mellowship told Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker.
Mellowship, who said he was "not here to waste time", also admitted to trespassing at the Treasury offices in the ACT in May.
The charges read to the West Australian father revealed he had made one of his threats about Mr Frydenberg to two Australian Federal Police protective service officers that same month.
The other was contained in comments he made to a psychologist in early July.
Mellowship was initially sent to hospital for a mental health assessment on Wednesday, with doctors clearing him to face court on Thursday morning.
He represented himself as he applied for bail, insisting he was "one of the kindest people in the community".
"There's no need for bail to be refused," he said, declaring it would not benefit anyone if he was sent to prison.
He added that he had previously committed an armed robbery but had not been locked up over it.
Mellowship continually declined the opportunity to speak to a lawyer, saying he was "very law-orientated" and "not a retard".
He did not want a pen and paper, either, because he had "a fantastic memory".
"I'm going to lose my bag and bike if I don't get out today," he said.
Commonwealth prosecutor Cecilia Pascoe opposed bail on several grounds, including that no conditions would ameliorate the risk of Mellowship endangering others and failing to return to court.
She said he had a lack of ties to the ACT and had admitted flying to Canberra from Western Australia "specifically to flog the Treasurer, in his words".
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"The defendant has stated that he won't be leaving Canberra until the job is done; the job being assaulting the Treasurer," she said.
Ms Pascoe said Mellowship had demonstrated "determination", having been ordered to leave Parliament House and the Treasury building five times.
She added that he had "form for this type of offending", having been convicted of assaulting a police officer.
Mellowship disputed this, however, telling the prosecutor the victim had not been a police officer and to "do your research".
He claimed the current court proceedings were "wasting everyone's time".
Ms Walker ultimately refused bail and said she would require a report on Mellowship's fitness to plead despite him having already undergone a mental health assessment and entered guilty pleas.
She said she believed there was a likelihood the man would endanger Mr Frydenberg if released from custody.
Mellowship is due back in court on August 31.
