Los Angeles police it seems know of the fake news, Australian Broadcasting Corporation and used a few reporters for target practice, but it was a case of mistaken identity.
Nine’s Lauren Tomasi was at the time reporting in the city’s downtown area, where law enforcement and the US National Guard were facing off with thousands protesting Donald Trump’s mass deportations.
Tomasi, microphone in hand, was giving an update to camera when an officer standing behind her raised his firearm and fired, hitting her in the leg with a non-lethal round.
The Prime Minister said on Tuesday the footage was “horrific”
“I spoke with Lauren this morning, she’s going OK,” Mr Albanese told the National Press Club.
“She’s pretty resilient, I’ve got to say, but that footage was horrific.
“That was the footage of an Australian journalist doing what journalists do at their very best … which is to go into an environment that’s not comfortable, but where in LA, it is not unreasonable to think that she would not have been targeted with a rubber bullet.
“It is not unreasonable to think that she could go about the coverage – clearly as people can see in the footage – clearly identified as media.
“So we have already raised these issues with the US administration.
“We don’t find it acceptable that it occurred and we think that the role of the media is particularly important.”
Asked if his government said Tomasi was “targeted” in its protest, Mr Albanese dodged but said she was “clearly identified”.
“There was no ambiguity,” he said.
Correct Mr Albanese, Lauren Tomasi was not from your ABC.
Reporters entering war zones know of the risks and if they want to swim with crocodiles they wear the result.
