NT Independent editor Chris Walsh hit with 12-month ban from attending Darwin Convention Centre events
A Territory journalist was expelled from a national anti-corruption conference and issued a 12 month ban from returning to one of the Top End’s biggest venues.
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A Territory journalist faces the threat of a $3000 fine if he returns to one of the Top End’s biggest conference spaces after being booted from an anti-corruption conference.
NT Independent editor Chris Walsh has confirmed NT Police issued him a 12 month ban from attending the Darwin Convention Centre on Tuesday after he attempted to attend the second day of the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference.
Walsh told the NT News he was sitting in the auditorium waiting for a panel discussion, including ICAC Inspector Bruce McClintock, when he was approached by security.
The journalist said he was told to leave as he did not have a conference lanyard, however Walsh maintained he was “targeted” due to his ongoing reporting on the NT ICAC office.
“It was clear I was being targeted and that someone had recognised me and didn’t want me there,” Walsh said.
The APSACC conference website did not have a media registration portal, while in-person tickets to the three-day event cost $2145.
Walsh acknowledged that the NT Independent did not buy tickets or gain media approval to attend the conference.
“I assumed it would be like most other conferences where media show up, attend some of the discussions and then ask questions afterwards,” he said.
“It was made clear by the Office of the ICAC that they did not want any journalists there for reasons they refused to explain.
“It was strange as typically the media are allowed to attend events and conferences such as these, especially considering taxpayers dollars were used to help organise and run this particular conference.”
Walsh said NT Police were called after he attempted to remain within the centre, to question conference attendees in the foyer as they left the sessions.
“They insisted that I vacate the entire premises, but I asserted that as media I had a right to stay and ask questions,” he said.
“I also asked on what grounds they were evicting me from the premises. This is when security called police.”
Walsh said police then issued a 12 month trespass notice, the maximum period under the Trespass Act.
“The police who attended were professional at all times and explained that the only paperwork they had to issue trespass notices was for 12 months,” he said.
“It has something to do with Labor’s recent ‘tough on crime’ approach to anti-social behaviour and the legislation they passed.”
Walsh said it was “chilling” that an agency such as the ICAC was willing to remove a journalist from a conference.
“There is no excuse for this and sets a dangerous precedent for other agencies to follow suit and call the police to order trespass notices on journalists for trying to do their jobs,” he said.
The office of the ICAC declined to provide a comment.
Under the Trespass Act 2023 Walsh faces a fine of up to $3240 if he enters the Darwin Convention Centre over the next 12 months.
The NT Independent was previously blacklisted by the NT Government and banned from attending press conferences and receiving government communications.
Eva Lawler lifted the ban when she became Chief Minister in December 2023, however her government has not ruled out hosting media press conferences at the centre — even if a certain journalist was barred from entering.
“The Lawler Labor Government will continue to engage with all media and hold events throughout August,” a NT Government spokeswoman said.
“During August, there is one leaders debate at the Convention Centre, which is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.”
The CLP declined to comment on the NT Independent’s trespass notice.
In 2023 former-Chief Minister Michael Gunner made headlines after media were ‘frogmarched’ out of the Darwin Convention Centre during his speech for NT Resources Week, in what was later explained as a ‘communication breakdown’.
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