Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lambasted the “horrific” US shooting of an Australian journalist, saying there was “no ambiguity” she was identified as a reporter.
Albanese said the Australian Government had contacted US authorities over the shooting with a rubber bullet of Nine correspondent Lauren Tomasi, as she covered the Los Angeles protests.
“We don’t find it acceptable that it occurred,” said Albanese, speaking at a scheduled National Press Club address.
“It is not unreasonable to think that she has been targeted with a rubber bullet.
“We have already raised these issues with the US administration,” Albanese said.
Tomasi was shot in the leg by a police officer, who appears to have been standing behind her, in clear view.
“She’s going OK. She’s pretty resilient, I’ve got to say. But that footage was horrific,” Albanese told reporters.
“We think that the role of the media is particularly important.
“That was the footage of an Australian journalist doing what journalists do at their very best,” he said.
Nine correspondent Lauren Tomasi is shot with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles. Source: Nine News
The Prime Minister said Tomasi had been clearly identified as a journalist.
“There was no ambiguity. She wasn’t wearing a trackie (tracksuit),” he said.
“She was wearing a helmet and something that identified her as media”.
ABC News Radio is reporting US authorities are now firing rubber bullets in the crowd. The protests are over ongoing immigration raids.
Albanese declined to say whether he would raise the matter with US President Donald Trump when the pair meet on the side-lines of the G7 meeting in Alberta, Canada next week.
Discussions with the President were between “himself and the President”, Albanese said.
“That’s the way that I deal with people, diplomatically, appropriately and with respect.
“So I’ll leave the discussions with the president until they occur, rather than foreshadow them,” he said.
After the incident, in the early house of this morning Australian time, Tomasi posted to social media about the incident.
“Hey there. Thanks for all your messages – I’m a bit sore, but I’m okay,” she wrote.
“Important we keep on telling the stories that need to be told.”
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