The chief executive of the National Press Club has apologised to One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson following an incident where GetUp secretly installed a banner that was unfurled during her June 17 speech.
The club says it may also seek to recover costs from GetUp.
Hanson was discussing statistics on Australian poverty when a banner was rolled down via remote control, accusing the senator of opposing worker pay rises while accepting her own.
Left-wing organisation GetUp later claimed responsibility for the incident.
“The club sincerely apologises to Senator Hanson for the incident,” said National Press Club of Australia chief executive Maurice Reilly.
“The National Press Club can confirm that the incident to disrupt Senator Hanson’s address was undertaken by third parties.
“No club personnel or club contractors had any involvement in this matter.”
“The organisation GetUp is claiming credit for the stunt. The GetUp representative at the address was David Sharaz,” Reilly said.
“At the time of writing, we understand he is yet to be interviewed by the AFP.”
The Epoch Times contacted Sharaz, who was present at the address and identified by the club as being associated with GetUp’s attendance at the event, for comment. No response had been received at the time of writing.
The publication also asked Sharaz whether claims his membership of the club had been revoked were accurate.
Reilly said two people entered the building before the speech and installed a separate drop-down screen in front of the media wall or light box.
“It is evident that a further person present during the address activated a remote device to trigger the unfurling of the coiled banner,” Reilly said.
“David Sharaz was seen filming the incident on his phone and, after the banner had lowered, left abruptly.”
He said the information was likely to form part of the AFP investigation.
“When the investigation has concluded, the club will consider its legal options against the perpetrators including recovering costs for the significant damage to the media wall or light box,” he said.
GetUp issued a brief statement saying: “It was us.”
It later said Hanson’s speech was “straight out of the Trump playbook” and “not normal.”
ACT Policing confirmed it had received a complaint about alleged unauthorised access and interference with equipment at a building in Barton.
“Investigations are underway, including examination by AFP Forensics officers,” a spokesperson for ACT Policing said.
Senator Ralph Babet questioned the safety of politicians given the banner was able to be installed and activated undetected.
“The fact that someone was able to access the venue and install a banner behind the stage raises serious questions about security,” he told The Epoch Times.
Hanson later updated her Facebook profile photo to the image of her on the GetUp banner.
ACT Policing has urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers at www.crimestoppers.com.au, quoting P2460286.
