China State-Media Reporter Tries to Stop Cameraperson Filming Her During Aussie PM Press Conference

Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. Melanie Sun/The Epoch Times

A reporter for China’s state-owned Xinhua News Agency took issue with a camera operator who filmed her during Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s press conference in Canberra on Friday.

Captured by SBS, the footage shows the reporter walking up to the camera after she noticed it was pointing towards her.

She then placed her hand on the lens saying, “Please don’t.”

She left the press conference afterward.

The incident took place in the Prime Minister’s Courtyard in Parliament House.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the incident drew the attention of fellow journalists and Australian Federal Police officers.

The prime minister’s security team followed the woman after she left the conference.

The reporter was accompanied to the press conference by a photographer who was filming the event. The photographer was asked by a staffer who she worked for, but she initially declined to answer.

Later, the Daily Telegraph confirmed the photographer did not have the proper credentials, having only an “escorted pass.” Access to Parliament House requires a “permanent media pass,” which the reporter did have.

The Prime Minister’s press conference followed the national cabinet meeting and gave an update on the pandemic in Australia.

Scott Morrison also addressed questions related to the recent raid by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) on the home and office of Labor State Member of Parliament Shaoquett Moselmane over allegations of Chinese Communist Party infiltration.