60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlett and crew detained in Kiribati
Reporter Liam Bartlett and his 60 Minutes team will be kicked out of Kiribati after being detained in a hotel on the Pacific island.
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Kiribati says it will deport a 60 Minutes crew that arrived on the Pacific island to film a story without the appropriate media permits.
It is understood when the five-person team led by Liam Bartlett was questioned on arrival as to their intent in the country, they claimed it was for “meetings” and failed to reveal it was to do filming for a news story.
The crew was advised prior to arrival they would need a permit to film and stood accused of “making a false declaration”.
The crew had arrived in Tarawa on a flight from Nadi on Monday.
Officials said had they applied for a permit to film as advised prior, it would have been granted and the incident would not have occurred.
They remained under house arrest in a hotel.
“They (60 Minutes) intentionally came to Kiribati without applying for a permit and then lied about the reason for their visit to immigration officers at the airport,” a Kiribati Government spokesperson said in a statement provided to the ABC.
“Since they have breached the conditions of their visitors’ permit their presence in the country is now unlawful and they have to remain in the hotel until departure.”
An Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday told News Corp Australia the department was aware a group of Australians had been detained and stood ready with consular assistance should it be required or requested.
Mr Bartlett and the crew had reportedly flown to Kiribati to film a story about the island nation’s government’s recent move to cut ties with Taiwan and establish diplomatic relations with China.
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Nine downplayed the incident saying the 60 Minutes crew had been “asked to remain in their hotel” until the next flight out after a mix-up over work permits.
A Channel 9 spokesman yesterday said the crew were all safe and sound and would film the next part of the story today.
“The 60 Minutes crew travelled to Kiribati on Monday. Before leaving, they submitted applications for filming approval,” a Channel 9 spokesman said in a statement.
“On arrival they arranged a meeting with authorities including the Executive Assistant of the President and a Senior Representative of the Immigration Department to discuss the application. Further forms were submitted and a request was made for expedited approval.
“That request was declined this morning (Wednesday) and the 60 Minutes team were asked to remain in their hotel until the next flight out, which was their scheduled departure flight. The crew is not under detention or house arrest as has been incorrectly reported, and the issue does not affect the story being worked on.”
Originally published as 60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlett and crew detained in Kiribati