Chinese Xinhua News reporter photographs local journalists
A Chinese journalist harangued a cameraman and photographed Australian journalists during a press conference held by the Prime Minister, just hours after ASIO officers raided an MP’s home over claims of foreign interference.
NSW
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A journalist for a Chinese state-owned media organisation caused a bizarre scuffle at a press conference held by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Canberra on the same day a major foreign interference investigation became public.
The woman, who worked for Xinhua News, a company owned by the Chinese Communist Party, became angry at a cameraman who had filmed her at the conference held in the Prime Minister’s Courtyard in Parliament House on Friday.
A female photographer believed to be in attendance at the media event with the Xinhua News reporter had been seen taking photos of other Australian journalists present.
Several witnesses confirmed the photographer was seen taking photos of journalists.
An SBS cameraman filmed the Xinhua News reporter for a short period of time, but in footage seen by The Daily Telegraph, the woman noticed and quickly stormed over and told him to stop.
The woman covered the camera lens with her hand, before suddenly leaving the press conference after the scuffle drew the attention of several journalists and Australian Federal Police officers.
As she left the courtyard she was followed by a member of the Prime Minister’s security team.
The photographer who had been seen taking pictures of journalists was later asked by a member of the prime minister’s staff who they worked for, but declined to answer at the time.
The Daily Telegraph has confirmed the photographer was in the courtyard with an escorted pass, not a permanent media pass, which is ordinarily a requirement of access to that part of Parliament House.
The Xinhua News reporter did hold a permanent media pass.