Video footage of a heated exchange between police officers and NITV journalist Myles Morgan after an Anzac Day protest in Canberra has gone viral.
Mr Morgan was filming the Anzac Day ceremonial parade in Canberra as part of NITV’s Anzac day coverage when tensions spilled over between police and a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous activists who were there to commemorate the Frontier Wars.
The group was told by police they were marching illegally because they didn’t have a permit from the RSL. Police told them they could march a few hundred metres up Anzac Parade before they would be stopped by police.
Protesters alleged they were repeatedly disrespected by police and told it "wasn’t their day".
When police tried to arrest one of the men who was shouting, a scuffle broke out which saw several officers and protesters pushing each other. It was then that it’s alleged a police officer pulled out his taser and motioned to use it on an activist.
When protesters left, three police officers threatened to seize Mr Morgan’s camera as evidence.
When the journalist said he was an employee of SBS with a legitimate reason to film the march, he was told he was filming for "private purposes" and not as a public servant.
The footage show an officer identified as Sergeant Mark Steel repeatedly asking Mr Morgan why he appeared nervous.
"What are you shaking for, Myles?" he said.
"You're shaking almost uncontrollably."
"Your face is twitching really badly. I don't think I've ever seen someone's face twitch like that."
Australian Federal Police attempt to seize #NITVNews footage of the Frontier Wars Canberra March from Saturday 25 April.... Posted by NITV News on Sunday, 26 April 2015
Mr Morgan refused to hand over the footage and questioned why he was the only person being asked to do so. He then asked if he was going to be arrested and was told by an officer identified as Sergeant Adrian Craft that he wouldn’t because "stupidity is not illegal."
National Indigenous Television has asked for the AFP – which runs policing in the ACT – to apologise for its treatment of the journalist, as well as implement better cross-cultural training.
The AFP has not released a comment on the matter as it is ongoing.
The video has generated a huge response online, with many posting responses on social media:
