The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are investigating a protest incident during Pauline Hanson’s speech at the National Press Club after activist group GetUp claimed responsibility for the stunt.
Incident Details
On Wednesday afternoon, about 20 minutes into Hanson’s address, a banner was unfurled behind her. The banner featured an edited black-and-white image of Hanson with the text: “I opposed a pay rise for workers, while I took a $100,000 pay rise for myself.”
GetUp’s Involvement
GetUp sent an email at 1:57 pm with the subject line “Hanson NPC Address: It Was Us.” CEO Paul Ferris stated the stunt aimed to highlight Hanson’s voting record on cost-of-living measures. “Pauline Hanson has built her entire brand on being for the battlers. But her record tells a different story. One Nation has consistently opposed wage rises, affordable childcare, increases to the aged pension, and housing affordability measures,” Ferris said. “We thought the occasion deserved some honesty. So we provided it.”
Press Club Response
The National Press Club confirmed it had referred the incident to police after concluding no staff were involved. It appeared “two persons entered the club building yesterday afternoon without permission and installed a separate drop-down screen in front of our media wall/light box.” A third person activated a remote device to unfurl the banner. The club said David Sharaz, a former journalist now working for GetUp and husband of Brittany Higgins, was seen filming the incident and left abruptly. The club plans to consider legal options after the investigation.
Political Reactions
During the event, Press Club CEO Maurice Reilly removed the banner, stating, “We’re not doing stunts, all right … we’re at the press club.” Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce alleged the incident could be an “inside job.” The club extended an apology to Hanson, emphasizing that no club personnel or contractors were involved.
ACT policing confirmed receiving a complaint about “alleged unauthorised access and interference with equipment at a building at Barton” and conducted forensic testing on Wednesday afternoon.
