An ABC camera crew was photographed in the driveway of a CEO’s home documenting an environmental protest — despite the broadcaster initially claiming none of its journalists were on private property.
Journalists on the flagship Four Corners program controversially filmed protesters demonstrating outside Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill’s home in Perth at 6:45am last Tuesday.
Ms O’Neill told a business meeting in Perth that what happened had left her “shocked, frightened and saddened” and Climate Minister Chris Bowen said there was “no place or tolerance for attacks on private homes and families”.
Amid the uproar, the ABC issued a statement claiming its journalists “remained on public land to observe what was happening and get some vision, as journalists do.”
“At no point did they intrude on private property or be involved in what happened,” the statement said.
Sky News obtained a photo of ABC journalists standing in the driveway of Woodside Energy’s CEO Meg O’Neill’s home – which seemed to contradict the broadcaster’s claim that none of its journalists were on private property
Journalists from the flagship Four Corners program controversially filmed protesters demonstrating outside Woodside Energy CEO Meg O’Neill’s home in Perth at 6:45am last Tuesday
“The ABC team has in no way colluded with the activists”
But sky news got a photo of the crew standing in the driveway of Mrs. O’Neill’s house.
Since the photo appeared, the ABC has said it is conducting “a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding this case.”
ABC general manager David Anderson reportedly sent a letter expressing regret – but not an apology – to Ms O’Neill.
Last week, Communications Secretary Michelle Rowland told federal parliament she is waiting for ABC briefings on their involvement.
At least five people from a group called Disrupt Burrup Hub were at Ms O’Neill’s house last Tuesday.
They were protesting mining and development of the Burrup Peninsula in northern Western Australia.
Two of the protesters have appeared before a court in Perth on charges of conspiracy to commit a criminal offence.
Woodside Energy has reportedly filed an official complaint with the ABC, alleging that it violated its own editorial policies by attending the protest.
Western Australian Prime Minister Roger Cook wrote to the broadcaster’s chairwoman, Ita Buttrose, to express his concern.
“Knowingly or unknowingly, the ABC was complicit,” he said, according to the Financial Overview.
Disrupt Burrup Hub said on Twitter that it was “very public in our non-violent approach to defending and protecting life.”
“There was no intention to enter O’Neill’s house, no one’s safety was threatened and the only source of intimidation was the ambush of the anti-terror police,” they said.
Daily Mail Australia contacted the ABC for comment.
Woodside Energy has reportedly filed an official complaint with the ABC, alleging it violated its own editorial policies by attending the protest
The ABC has previously denied “collusion” with the activists, as the broadcaster came under fire immediately after the protest.
A TV crew filmed the protest for a story,” the ABC said in a statement.
“Any idea that the TV crew colluded with the protesters is false.”
Located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and known as Murujuga to traditional owners, the Burrup Peninsula contains the world’s largest and oldest collection of petroglyphs.
Disrupt Burrup Hub claims that Woodside’s operations in the area and proposed expansion are the largest new fossil fuel project in the country and could produce billions of tons of carbon dioxide by 2070.
It has carried out a series of actions against Woodside this year, including the release of foul gas at its Perth headquarters in June, forcing the evacuation of around 2,000 staff.
Woodside responded last week through his lawyers, who sent a letter to a Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigner saying the company plans to file a civil lawsuit against members of the group.