ACC's Whangarei office was placed on high alert because three weeks earlier, two Work and Income workers were shot dead and another critically injured in Ashburton.
Monk's lawyer, Kelly Johnson, said the exact wording on the charges differed to what his client actually said over the phone. The charging document, he said, quoted Monk as saying he would plant the bomb when in fact he said over the phone: "You f****** deserved to be bombed. Not that I would," Mr Johnson said. Mr Johnson said Monk's actions verged on recklessness rather than being aimed at achieving an effect.
However, he admitted it was a foolish thing to say in light of what happened at Ashburton.
He asked for a non-custodial sentence as Monk was prone to such behaviour and needed help rather than a sentence of imprisonment.
Judge Davis said he didn't believe Monk wasn't aware of the Ashburton shooting, which had the potential to spur copycat acts.
He said one had to put himself in the shoes of ACC staff in Whangarei and the impact such a threat has had on them.
Judge Davis said that when Monk was spoken to by police over the phone before his arrest, he admitted he reacted in frustration at getting only $10 a week to survive on.
"There has to be a clear message that whatever one's frustration, there's no place in a right-thinking society for people to make threats which has the potential to have snowballing effect," the judge said.
He didn't agree with a pre-sentence report that recommended prison as Monk was at risk because he lived in an isolated area with few friends.
Monk will be on curfew between 8pm and 6am daily for the next six months.