One Nation exclusion of ABC an 'attack on role of media in a democracy'

Extract from ABC News

Updated about an hour ago

Photo: Pauline Hanson's party is projected to take about 4.8 per cent of the vote in WA. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)

Related Story: ABC refused access to One Nation WA election night function

The ABC has expressed concern about the exclusion of its journalists from a One Nation function on WA election night, saying it could be seen as an attack on both the broadcaster and the role of media in a democracy.

Journalists Nicolas Perpitch and Michael Edwards, from the national broadcaster, were refused entry to the event at Melville Bowling Club in Perth's south on Saturday night while party leader Senator Pauline Hanson addressed supporters.
ABC editorial director Alan Sunderland said in a statement that other media representatives attended on the night without any prior arrangements or permission being required.
"Those other media representatives, who included broadcasters, agencies and newspaper reporters from inside and outside Western Australia, were granted immediate access to the event," the statement said.

"The ABC was denied access, and was treated differently to all other media."

 Nicolas Perpitch

✔ @NicPerpitch

The ban on entry to One Nation #wavotes HQ is @abcnews specific. All other media allowed in. @abcnewsPerth

9:40 PM - 11 Mar 2017

Mr Sunderland said he had been in contact with One Nation since Saturday night seeking an explanation.
He said One Nation has claimed all media were treated appropriately and obtained material from a pool shoot.
However, he said the ABC had been singled out and excluded.
"Throughout the Western Australian election campaign, the ABC has provided accurate, impartial and independent political coverage and all political parties have been the subject of appropriate scrutiny and questioning," Mr Sunderland said.
"If the ABC has been denied normal access to political events for simply doing its job, then that is an attack not just on the public broadcaster but on the fundamental role of the media in a democracy.
"We will continue, as we always have, to report without fear or favour."
Senator Hanson's media advisor James Ashby has not responded to a request for comment.
One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts responded on Twitter to Mr Sunderland's statement, saying the ABC was barred because they refused to provide right of reply to the party.

Alan Sunderland

✔ @asunderland

So I've had something to say today about One Nation's treatment of ABC reporters. http://about.abc.net.au/statements/statement-from-abc-editorial-director-exclusion-of-abc-journalists-by-one-nation-officials/ …

Sen. Malcolm Roberts

✔ @SenatorMRoberts

.@asunderland
1 ABC was not balanced, claims we ‘flopped’ is false

2 ABC refuses our party right of reply so we refuse your right of entry

11:05 AM - 14 Mar 2017

Pauline Hanson's One Nation is projected to take about 4.8 per cent of the vote in WA, far less than early polling which suggested it could be as high as 13 per cent.
WA Premier-elect Mark McGowan has also taken aim at One Nation for its election-night actions.
"I thought that was pretty disgraceful, and I think it says a lot about One Nation that they are prepared to do that sort of thing," he said.