Penny Wong visits HMS Prince of Wales, shuns media pack for ABC
The mainstream media were left hanging on Sunday when Foreign Minister Penny Wong rocked up to a major media event on the condition she would only speak to one particular outlet.
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong has refused to hold a press conference at a major media event, instead opting for a one-on-one exclusive interview with the government-funded Australian Broadcast Corporation - twice.
On Sunday afternoon in Darwin, Ms Wong visited British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which has been operating off Australia’s northern coastline as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Its arrival marks the first time in almost three decades since a UK aircraft carrier pulled into the NT capital and, in-line with the historic occasion, Ms Wong joined Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and UK Defence Secretary John Healey to celebrate its arrival and meet the crew.
Ahead of the highly anticipated event, members of the media were invited to cover the occasion, with journalists as far as the UK and Taiwan flying in for the opportunity.
After climbing aboard, however, event organisers informed the media scrum only the ABC would be permitted to interview Ms Wong and Mr Lammy, with the rest of the media team told to collapse their cameras and leave the area.
After some reporters aired their concern, it was agreed the footage would be shared between the competing mastheads.
About 20 minutes later, the elected officials emerged on deck, where media were allowed to take photos and footage, but, again, not permitted to pose questions.
After an hour, the reporters were ushered downstairs where they were promised the chance to engage the leaders.
En route, the ABC were asked to push ahead of the pack, with Ms Wong awaiting them in the hangar for another exclusive interview.
After Ms Wong completed the second exclusive, a Taiwan-based journalist tried to make her long-trip worthwhile, attempting to ask the foreign minister a question mid-stride.
Unfortunately for her, she was shut down.
Despite missing out on the foreign minister twice, journalists were finally given the chance to ask questions – but only to Mr Marles and Mr Healey.
A total of eight questions were asked across a 17-minute press conference.
One of those questions concerned Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s latest statement on Palestine – a query which the pack hoped to direct to Ms Wong.
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Originally published as Penny Wong visits HMS Prince of Wales, shuns media pack for ABC
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