Australia news live: press gallery ‘strongly objects’ to One Nation threats to ban journalists

The federal parliamentary press gallery committee has issued a statement strongly objecting to threats made by One Nation yesterday to ban journalists. The committee, which represents journalists who work in Parliament House in Canberra, said it “always welcomes the opportunity for professional and respectful engagement with politicians, candidates and political parties”. The Guardian Australia journalist Sarah Martin was subjected to a personal and unfounded attack by the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson , yesterday at the National Press Club. The committee said the ability to scrutinise and question politicians is one of the fundamental functions of journalists: double quotation mark Against this backdrop, the Gallery Committee strongly objects to threats made by One Nation – or by any political party – to ban certain journalists and organisations from doing their jobs as important observers and interpreters of federal politics. Journalists have an essential role to play in a free and open democracy, and such restrictions would undermine and ultimately weaken Australia’s political system. Earlier, the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance issued a statement in support of Martin. Pauline Hanson at the National Press Club. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP