News organisations say bollard placed behind press pack covering politicians at parliamentary breakfast could have endangered their staff

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Several media organisations have indicated they will register complaints against a Parliament House security guard for what they say is irresponsible behaviour that could have endangered their staff.

The incident comes amid rising discontent over Tony Abbott’s media management, which has seen the release of more government-shot YouTube addresses and fewer visits to the press gallery to restrict spontaneous media scrums.

High-level parliamentarians, including Abbott, opposition leader Bill Shorten, foreign minister Julie Bishop and communications minister Malcolm Turnbull, attended a United Nations national committee for women parliamentary breakfast on Tuesday morning.

Media outlets were invited to cover the event, in an area of Parliament House where filming is allowed.

A security guard employed by the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) placed a moveable bollard behind the travelling press pack as it was following Turnbull out of the event.

The security guard was aware of the direction in which the press pack was travelling.

Journalists say the placement of the bollard endangered cameramen and photographers who were walking backwards in order to get a shot of the communications minister, and unaware of the impediments. A journalist stopped a cameraman from falling over the roped bollard, and Turnbull commented on it as he was passing.

Several news outlets will be making official complaints to DPS and the parliamentary presiding officer, who looks after security matters.

Fairfax photographer Alex Ellinghausen said bollards are usually used to mark safe zones, but there was no security issue in this instance.

ellinghausen (@ellinghausen) Day 23 of Good Govt and we now have a 'roving bollard squad' adding last minute bollards to stop media, what next? pic.twitter.com/aZBrV5tgCe

A spokeswoman for the DPS said security guards “do an extremely difficult job in challenging circumstances”. “Department of Parliamentary Services is aware of the allegation regarding a media issue and is looking into the matter,” she told Guardian Australia.

A brochure put out by DPS to inform the public of its operations said: “The safety and security of senators, members, colleagues and the public is a priority of Parliament House. The Parliamentary Security Service (PSS) maintains a constant security presence to demonstrate this commitment.”

Bollards have been used to corral press into designated zones where filming is restricted.