Two West Australian journalists have had their homes searched and personal items confiscated by police, their union says.
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance on Tuesday afternoon said it had been told officers had seized a computer, phone and SD card related to the pair’s work as journalists.
“From the information to hand, the WA police have urgent questions to answer about these raids,” said MEAA media director Cassie Derrick, calling the execution of the warrants disturbing and amounting to harassment.
“Police have seized and retained property on what appear to be questionable grounds.”
The union said the equipment seized contained confidential information that could jeopardise sources and prevent the journalists from being able to work.
AAP understands the equipment belonged to two Karratha-based reporters working for independent Indigenous broadcaster Ngaarda Media.
One of the journalists had been working on the Burrup Peninsula documenting the removal of Indigenous rock art from a construction for a new fertiliser plant.
The other is understood have been involved in a protest against Woodside Energy in Perth on Friday, when activists with gas canisters allegedly unlawfully entered the building where the company’s annual general meeting was being held.
WA Police confirmed a search warrant had been executed in Karratha on Friday and said a man and woman had been charged with one count each of aggravated burglary after an incident in Perth.
Police allege the man had a gas canister containing an unknown substance and unlawfully bypassed security measures of a building.
“It will be further alleged the man intended on committing an act that could have impacted the safety of hundreds of people in the building at the time,” a spokesman said.
It is not known if either of the two journalists are the people charged by police.
The union is calling for WA Police Minister Paul Papalia to investigate the behaviour of the police involved and to publicly report the outcome of their investigations.
“The bottom line is that this kind of police action utterly undermines journalism and the public’s right to know,” Ms Derrick said.
“That these property seizures have taken place in the same week as World Press Freedom Day makes it even more important that this property is returned urgently.”
Ngaarda Media is an independent community broadcaster and media training hub representing and empowering the Aboriginal people of the Pilbara.
-AAP
