Police investigate Pauline Hanson National Press Club protest stunt
Police are investigating a protest stunt that disrupted One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s first National Press Club address.
As she spoke today, a banner suddenly dropped beside the stage reading: “I opposed a pay rise for workers while I took a $100,000 pay rise for myself.”
Pauline Hanson's debut appearance was interrupted by an unexpected protest. Getty Images
Advocacy group GetUp later claimed responsibility for orchestrating the protest stunt.
“Today, while Pauline Hanson was addressing the National Press Club for the first time in her 30-year career, we dropped a screen behind her,” the organisation said.
The National Press Club said the incident had been carried out by third parties, was not connected to its staff or contractors, and had been referred to the Australian Federal Police.
It said two people appeared to have entered the building without permission yesterday afternoon and installed a separate drop-down screen in front of its media wall and light box before another person activated a remote device to trigger the banner.
“The club sincerely apologises to Senator Hanson for the incident,” the statement read.
The club also claimed GetUp representative David Sharaz, the husband of former political staffer Brittany Higgins, of filming the incident on his phone and leaving shortly after.
Sharaz, whose LinkedIn profile identifies him as the organisation’s media and campaigns lead, is yet to comment on the stunt but has shared calls for media reform on his Instagram account.
Nine.com.au has contacted Sharaz for comment.
ACT Policing confirmed to nine.com.au it had “received a complaint regarding the alleged unauthorised access and interference with equipment in a building in Barton”.
The National Press Club has apologised to Hanson over the protest. Hilary Wardhaugh
“Investigations into this matter are underway including examination by AFP Forensics officers,” a spokesperson said.
The National Press Club said it would consider legal action once the investigation had concluded, including seeking to recover the cost of damage caused to its media wall and light box.
GetUp defended the protest, saying “it said what Australians deserve to know”.
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