“ABC was complicit”: WA premier objects to Four Corners crew at protest

WA Premier Roger Cook has criticised ABC after a Four Corners team filmed a protest outside the home of Woodside boss Meg ONeill.

WA Today reports Cook wrote to ABC Chair Ita Buttrose expressing his concerns.

“I have been in public life long enough to understand the vital role the news media plays in a healthy democracy and the right of journalists to report the news without fear or favour,” Cook wrote.

“However, the fact that an ABC TV crew attended the private home of a WA citizen to document the committing of alleged criminal acts is cause for great concern and morally wrong.”

This week ABC claimed Four Corners was given a tip whilst preparing a story but had no knowledge what was at the address or that it was someone’s house.

“The ABC team remained on public land observing what was happening and getting some vision, as journalists do,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

“They at no time went on to private property or had any involvement in what was happening. The ABC team in no way colluded with the activists.”

Cook maintains, “Wittingly or unwittingly, the ABC was complicit.

“As we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, single issue activists are now engaging in a new tactic – targeting public figures and their families in their homes,” Cook wrote.

“Unfortunately, this occurred too many times when the former WA Premier and his family were targeted at their own private home. This is completely unacceptable.”

Protesters have been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence but Defence lawyers have argued charges should be downgraded to trespassing.

Updated:

The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance deputy chief executive, Adam Portelli, told Guardian Australia no one should restrict access to journalists covering a protest.

“News reporters receive tip-offs about protests and other events all the time and have a clear right to attend them for the purpose of providing public interest journalism,” Portelli said.

“It would be unacceptable for governments or police to restrict journalists’ access to events of this type.”