Tamworth man Wade John Homewood refused bail in court after counter-terrorism police arrested him for alleged extremist online posts

Wade John Homewood, 37, appeared via video link from custody in Parramatta Local Court on Friday.

Magistrate Paul Mulroney gave serious consideration to written submissions handed up by both Homewood's defence team and Commonwealth prosecutors, and also heard arguments in court.

Homewood faced the "unusual" release hurdle of having to prove there were exceptional circumstances in his case, due to the nature of his charges.

The court heard Homewood was living with his parents in East Tamworth, was isolated and "basically unemployed" when police claim his online activity featured "nationalist and racist violent extremist messaging".

Defence barrister David Barrow said the allegations against Homewood, although "vile", were of relatively low seriousness and involved internet posts with little interaction.

The court heard Homewood had struggled to speak to his lawyers while behind bars and had not been able to get psychological help.

Strong conditions - including $50,000 for bail - were put on the table.

READ ALSO:

Mr Mulroney said the defence submissions fell into two categories - the nature of the allegations and the conditions Homewood had to put up with in custody.

"The very nature of the charges include people who urge violence or advocate the commission of terrorist acts by means that would include the internet," he said.

"It is extremely difficult to predict the consequence of that urging, it is extremely difficult to predict what might trigger somebody to actually take up the urging or the advocacy that has come out."

Mr Mulroney said limited evidence had been put before him about Homewood's lack of access to lawyers and said it didn't appear to amount to a "systematic obstacle".

He found no combination of circumstances proved exceptional, and refused bail.

Homewood was arrested on November 23 by a counter-terror squad made up of Australian Federal Police, NSW Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.

Police raided a home and two rural blocks of land earlier in November as part of a months-long investigation, allegedly seizing electronic devices as well as handwritten and printed materials to be forensically examined.

Homewood has not yet entered pleas to allegations of urging his online audience to commit violence against groups that threatens order and good government, knowing they were distinguished by race or religion, as well as advocating a terrorist act or commissioning a terrorist offence.

He's also accused of having a stockpile of ammunition.

His case was moved from Tamworth to Parramatta for security reasons.

Crown prosecutors asked the court for a four-week adjournment so the rest of the brief of evidence could be served.

Homewood's matter will be called again in late April.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: