National Press Club investigates security breach during Pauline Hanson’s address
Updated ,first published
One Nation said the safety of leader Pauline Hanson was compromised when activist group GetUp held up a demonstration banner behind her as she gave her maiden speech at the National Press Club in Canberra.
Hanson went on to outline plans to restrict Muslim immigration, end multiculturalism and undermine the climate change department.
Speaking after Wednesday’s event, Hanson’s chief of staff, James Ashby, said: “There are security concerns for Pauline’s safety.” He demanded that the club impose a lifetime ban on the group of activists, including the organisation’s media and campaign leader David Sharaz.
The club apologized to Hanson and said neither its staff nor its contractors were involved in the incident and that it was the work of a third party. The footage was handed over to the Australian Federal Police.
After the speech, GetUp claimed responsibility for the demonstration, which included the remote unfurling of a banner that read “I opposed a pay increase for workers while getting a $100,000 raise for myself.” The banner was unveiled shortly after Hanson began speaking.
The sight of the banner momentarily distracted Hanson, but he continued his speech.
Ashby later said that on Tuesday and Wednesday he “was assured by members of the press club and the AFP that he had the same level of security provided to Israeli dignitaries who were here recently”; This is a step above the security provided to the Prime Minister.
“If vigilante groups and protesters like GetUp are allowed to do this, what signal will that send to the dignitaries? I think the National Press Club needs to examine their constitution very closely to find a way to impose a lifetime ban on Getup and its members who are there, and I point the finger specifically at David Sharaz.”
Sharaz came to prominence when, working with her partner Brittany Higgins, she went public with the allegation that she had been raped by political operative Bruce Lehrmann.
Sharaz was at the National Press Club for the event but did not respond to a request for comment.
In a comment published at 5.20pm the club said: “At the time of writing, his [Sharaz] He has not yet been interviewed by AFP. It appears that two men entered the clubhouse without permission yesterday afternoon and placed a separate pop-up screen in front of our media wall/light box.
“It is clear that another person present during the address activated a remote-controlled device to trigger the unfurling of the spiral banner. David Sharaz was seen recording the incident on his phone and left abruptly after the banner was taken down. We understand this is likely to form part of the AFP investigation.
“Once the investigation has concluded the club will consider its legal options against the perpetrators, including recovering the costs of significant damage to the media wall/lightbox.”
The club’s president, Sky News presenter Tom Connell, told his employer that the preliminary vision showed someone had prepared the stunt much earlier.
“From the footage we’ve looked at so far, it appears that people were able to enter the building yesterday, not today, and that someone buying a ticket pressed a button in the address queue,” he told Sky News.
Hanson’s colleagues, including Barnaby Joyce and senators Malcolm Roberts, Sean Bell and Tyron Whitten, were also in the room for the speech, which lasted about 15 minutes, and One Nation staff and supporters were also present, with many applauding the party leader repeatedly.
Hanson also attacked Guardian Australia journalist Sarah Martin for asking why her daughter Lee Hanson was working for NSW senator Bell, while the younger Hanson was living and working in Tasmania, where she was the party’s Senate candidate at the next election, and whether Pauline Hanson had any part in her daughter’s recruitment.
“Honestly, you never give up,” Hanson said. “I’ve never seen such a worthless journalist, you know, and you have this obsession with constantly trying to denigrate myself, my party, or Ms. [Gina] “It was Rinehart,” he said.
Rinehart is a major donor to One Nation, including recently giving the party leader a small plane.
SBS reporter Anna Henderson was also shocked when she asked about Hanson’s plan to shut down the network. The One Nation leader said: “You will definitely be unemployed.”
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James Massola is the chief political commentator. He was previously national affairs editor and Southeast Asia correspondent. He won the Quill and Kennedy awards and was a Walkley finalist. Connect securely to Signal @jamesmassola.01Connect with: X or email.
