Journalist manhandled by NSW Premier’s bodyguards for daring to ask questions about koalas

Climate Action now

An incident today saw a well respected journalist, who was doing his job attending a press conference with the Premier of NSW and Nationals leader, dragged away and assaulted by security for seeking to ask a question about the protection of koalas in Northern NSW.

The Greens will be referring the matter to the NSW Police tomorrow for an urgent investigation, because it is unlawful to assault a journalist for simply trying to ask a politician a question.

“Welcome to NSW, first we had the drubbing of questions to the Premier by a Newcastle Herald journalist at a staged press conference and now we have a man in his 70’s dragged away by security for daring to ask the Premier a question,” David Shoebridge MP, lead Greens Upper House candidate said.

“This is a local man who helped found 4ZZZ Radio in Brisbane, a highly respected and award winning journalist, who simply responded to an invitation by way of a media alert by the local Ballina Nationals' candidate and dared to ask a difficult question.

“This is emblematic of this government, their wrecking ball approach to the public interest and their refusal to engage in rational discussion and debate.

“After seeing this footage I am extremely alarmed and contacted Mr Beetson to check on his welfare.

“Mr Beetson was bruised and scratched but not bowed.

“I will be referring the footage to the NSW Police tomorrow for an urgent investigation into what looks so clearly to be an unlawful assault.

“In more than four decades of being a journalist, including with The Guardian and The Washington Post, Mr Beetson has never been treated like this by an MP or their staff and security.

“We have a free press for a reason, this is not Hollywood where everything is stage managed, and this again demonstrates that the Berejiklian government has lost its way.

“They are so terrified of scrutiny they would seek to drag a journalist in his 70’s away for asking questions at a press conference.

“The Premier, and the Deputy Premier, who is the leader of the NSW Nationals, need to explain how this was allowed to happen and what they will be doing to ensure this sort of behaviour never happens again.

‘The overreach of this government is out of control and after being made aware of what took place in Brunswick Heads today, there are serious questions to answer,” Shoebridge said.