Hugo Clément surprised at his treatment but thinks his arrest will draw Europe’s attention to the Queensland coalmine

A prominent French journalist arrested and charged while covering a protest against Adani’s Carmichael coalmine says he’s surprised and disappointed at his treatment, while Australia’s media union has called for the charges to be dropped.

On Monday reporter Hugo Clément and three of his crew members were filming a protest by an activist group near the Abbot Point terminal just north of Bowen when they were arrested by Queensland police.

The four men have been charged with trespass for being on the railway line at the entrance to the mining company’s coal-loading facility. Three Victorians – one man and two women – who took part in the protest were also charged.

“For me Australia was a very big democratic country with big press freedom so to do my job here in Australia I didn’t think it would be a problem,” he said.

“I’m very surprised and maybe disappointed too because I didn’t think it was like that here, but in fact it is.”

Adani protest: French journalists arrested while filming anti-coal activities Read more

The arrests come amid heightened concerns about press freedom in Australia following a number of high-profile raids on media companies including the ABC by the Australian federal police.

The president of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Marcus Strom, said the charges against the journalists should be dropped.

“Journalists should be free to go about their work reporting on matters in the public interest and should not be arrested for simply doing their job,” he said.

“While details around the incident remain unclear, we are concerned that journalists have been detained while doing their jobs.

“The Queensland police should provide a full explanation of why a clearly identifiable French TV crew was arrested. Now that their bona fides have been established any charges should be dropped.”

The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the arrests highlighted the importance of the current Senate inquiry into press freedom.

“The arrest of journalists in Queensland today is incredibly alarming,” she said. “A free press is a fundamental pillar of democracy and it seems, here in Australia, it is under threat. Arresting journalists for doing their job has eerie echoes of a police state.

“The impact of what is happening in the Galilee Basin will affect us all and it is imperative that the community debate and concern can be reported on.

“We urgently need a thorough examination of press freedom in Australia to ensure those who hold power to account are able to keep doing their job without fear or favour. The Senate has the opportunity to vote for just such an inquiry tomorrow.”

The protests were being staged by activist group Frontline Action on Coal as part of an increased pushback against the controversial mine’s approval by the Queensland government.

The activist group said that Clément and others were told by police they were “obstructing the railway” while filming the protests.

“Without warning, all four Frenchmen were immediately placed in handcuffs and put into police vehicles,” it said in a statement.

Clément told Guardian Australia he was detained for seven hours by Queensland police, despite telling them he was a reporter.

“They didn’t care,” he said. “They just say ‘yes but you don’t have a right to go in private property’. I say ‘I didn’t know the railway is private property’.

“In France you have right to film in the streets … even though you film the protests you are not part of the protest yourself, you are a journalist, you do your job and make the report, that’s just life.”

Australia's press freedom needs better protection. Here’s where to start | Rebecca Ananian-Welsh Read more

Clément – a high-profile journalist who has reported on environmental issues across the globe and hosts a television show on French public broadcaster France 2 – is in Australia filming a documentary about oceans. Before the Adani protest he had been in Port Douglas filming about coral bleaching.

He said despite the controversy surrounding the Carmichael coalmine in Australia it is not well-known in Europe.

“No, no nobody knows ... nobody knows the Adani topic. That’s why we are doing it, because nobody knew before,” he said. “But I think since the last two hours [following his arrest] everybody knows. That’s why the arrest was stupid because they have just brought all this attention.”

Clément is now subject to strict bail conditions banning him from being within 20km of Adani’s Carmichael mine site or less than 100 metres from any other Adani site. He and the other French nationals are due to face Bowen magistrates court on 3 September.

Queensland police confirmed the charges and said in a statement that it “supports lawful and peaceful protest and is committed to working with groups to plan and facilitate lawful activities”.