Peter Korugl
CANBERRA (PNG Post Courier / Pacific Media Watch): Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was elbowed aside by representatives of the Australian media while the Papua New Guinean leader was in Parliament House in Canberra last week.
The incident, described as "unacceptable and potentially unsafe" behaviour by the journalists, was reported by Robyn McClelland, the Serjeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives.
In a letter of complaint to Phillip Hudson, president of the Federal Parliamentary Press Gallery, Clelland said O’Neill was elbowed aside by journalists who were trying to get their questions to Australian Prime Minister Julie Gillard as the two were walking to a luncheon that she hosted for the PNG Prime Minister.
“We have been advised that when the Prime Minister (Ms Gillard) and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Honourable Peter O'Neil CMG PM, were heading via the Mural Hall to a luncheon in honour of the Prime Minister of PNG in the Private Dining Rooms, Mr O'Neil was effectively elbowed aside by representatives of the media seeking to question the Prime Minister (Ms Gillard).
“Such behaviour is totally unacceptable and potentially unsafe. There was no authorisation of the media to film in the private areas of the building.”
However, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s office downplayed the incident last night. O’Neill’s media adviser Daniel Korimbao said O’Neill was neither hassled nor felt threatened by the behaviour of Australian journalists.
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Pacific Media Watch
