Regional Queensland was to have been the setting for a terrorist attack, say police who have charged a man with making preparations for violent extremism.
The city of Bundaberg was on Saturday identified as the target of the attack.
Police charged a 29-year-old man on Friday with preparing or planning terrorist acts.
He had planned a terrorist act in the Bundaberg region and sought firearms training, police say.
The man's property was searched after he reportedly made threats to a member of the public. Officers allegedly found electronic devices containing information "indicating a desire to undertake acts of violent extremism".
"The decision to charge this man was made to prevent a terrorist attack in Australia and to protect the community," Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said.
If found guilty of the charges, the man faces a penalty of up to life imprisonment.
Australian Associated Press