[1][2] Born in Craigieburn, Victoria, Bilardi was a shy, lonely boy and student who was reportedly bullied by peers.

[3] Bilardi kept a blog describing his disdain for United States forces committing crimes against Muslims in the Middle East.

Concerned that the Australian government was monitoring him, Bilardi turned to building explosives in the event he would not be able to leave the country.

[7] Prime Minister Tony Abbott, commented on Bilardi's death as an "absolutely horrific situation",[10] stating, "it's very, very important that we do everything we can to try to safeguard our young people against the lure of this shocking, alien and extreme ideology.

"[11] Greg Barton, director of the Centre for Islam and the Modern World considers Bilardi a self-radical motivated by underlying mental health issues instead of religious zealotry.