'We serve the local community': ABC journalists booted from One Nation event on eve of crucial byelection
Updated . First published at
Two local ABC reporters have been escorted out of a One Nation event on the eve of the crucial Farrer byelection.
In vision captured by 9News, a One Nation volunteer can be seen telling two local ABC journalists to leave, shortly before the event was set to kick off.
One of the ABC workers can be heard asking whether One Nation candidate David Farley had ordered their removal, to which the staffer replied, "That doesn't matter, come on... sweetheart, please," leading the pair towards the exit.
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A pair of ABC reporters were asked to leave the One Nation event. Nine
One of the ABC reporters can be heard saying, "we are a tax-funded organisation".
One Nation chief of staff James Ashby was also seen directing the reporters out of the event, saying "bye-bye to the ABC" before following the pair towards the exit.
Ashby then said he was the one who ordered the removal of the reporters, telling them to ask their chief of staff in Canberra for the reason.
They replied by saying they are based in Wodonga, which neighbours with Albury in the Farrer electorate.
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Party leader Pauline Hanson watched the reporters' removal. Nine
"We serve the local community," one reporter said.
After the ABC reporters left, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson questioned Ashby about their removal.
"Why, if they're local ABC? Rural and regional? she asked.
"Because they're reporting back to ABC Canberra," Ashby replied.
"They were told."
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Pauline Hanson was seen questioning the ABC reporters' removal. Nine
Hanson appeared to say "they shouldn't have gone", before walking off.
The Farrer byelection will be held tomorrow, and One Nation is considered the frontrunner to take the regional NSW seat from the Coalition following the resignation of former opposition leader Sussan Ley, who had held the electorate from 2001.
Both the Liberals and Nationals are fielding candidates, while independent Michelle Milthorpe is also a major challenger, having significantly cut into Ley's margin at the last federal election.
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