Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Following the disgraceful incident at the Perth home of Woodside CEO Meg O'Neill yesterday in which protesters tried to invade her home, has the Prime Minister sought an explanation from the ABC about the involvement of one of its television crews in the incident and how the ABC was provided with the home address of Woodside's CEO?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I share Senator Henderson's concerns about the way in which the media were alerted of this. People have a right to their privacy. People's families have a right to feel safe. I think all of us would say that we have legitimate political protests in our nation and people have a lot of different views, but that right to protest and that freedom of expression that is part of that, the democratic rights that expresses, have to be utilised responsibly. I personally don't believe, and I think most of us would share this belief, that it's responsible for such protests to be taken to someone's home where their family is.

I don't have any information in relation to how or what happened in relation to the ABC. I will certainly see if there's anything I can do to provide further information about that matter.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, first supplementary?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator, if the protesters informed the ABC they were going to that address, was it appropriate for the ABC to embargo news of such a reckless protest? Should a responsible journalist have considered alerting police to their advanced knowledge of an intended illegal act?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order across the chamber.

I have called for order, Senator Colbeck and Senator McKenzie. Minister Wong?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The advice I've received—and, again, Senator Henderson, I will add to this answer if I'm able to—is the minister has responded in the House that she has sought further information from the ABC on this matter in addition to their public statements. She awaits the further advice she has requested. She does note that the ABC has both operational and editorial independence.

Senator Henderson, please. No-one in this chamber, I would think, would support what has happened, so let's not—

There are some things above politics for some of us, Senator Henderson.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hughes, order! Senator Henderson, second supplementary?

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, we are referring to advanced knowledge of an intended illegal act. Will the government take action and request that the recently appointed ABC Ombudsman conduct an urgent inquiry into this matter?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for the supplementary. In relation to those matters, I will take advice from the minister and provide further information to the chamber as to whether or not we can provide anything helpful in relation to your question.

I have also just been sent an ABC statement, which the senator may well be aware of, where the ABC has responded directly to these queries.

Opposition Senator:

An opposition senator interjecting—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have only just seen this. I'm simply trying to be helpful to the chamber on an issue that—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Colbeck, there are many opportunities during a sitting week to make a contribution. Question time is not one of them, if you are not asking a question. The minister is responding. Minister Wong.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have just received a copy of the statement; others may have seen it. I simply say the statement says that they had no knowledge of what action was going to occur there, and so forth, and the police were already in attendance on arrival. Can I say this again: families deserve to be safe, and people are entitled to their privacy. President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.

(Time expired)