Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee gives Ian Bushnell the middle finger on Wednesday. Photo: ABC.
Veteran Region journalist Ian Bushnell says he’s frustrated at being made the centre of a viral news story after Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee made a rude gesture at him.
In an incident that’s made national headlines, Ms Lee was caught on camera raising her middle finger to Mr Bushnell while he had his back turned to her after questioning her at a press conference.
Ms Lee later went on radio to apologise for her actions.
“I was just doing my job,” Mr Bushnell said.
“It’s very awkward for a journalist to be at the centre of the story rather than just reporting on it.”
During a tense press conference, Mr Bushnell pressed Ms Lee on the costs of the promises she had been making during the campaign.
The Liberals leader responded by saying she was in discussions with Treasury about her policy costings.
“Isn’t it a bit late in the day to be having these discussions?” Mr Bushnell asked.
“Isn’t it late in the day for [Chief Minister] Andrew Barr to still have not submitted costings for his policies?” Ms Lee replied.
The Region journalist asked her not to deflect and to answer his question.
“Are you finished?” Me Lee asked.
“I am, answer the question,” Mr Bushnell responded.
“Are you finished or not? I will answer the question in my own way, Ian. You don’t get to dictate how I answer the question,” Ms Lee said.
A minute later, when the press conference ended, Ms Lee raised her middle finger at the journalist after he’d walked away and had his back turned to her.
Daily Digest
She expressed remorse for her action later in the day.
“Earlier, I engaged in poor behaviour that was unprofessional, and I apologise,” Ms Lee said.
“I don’t excuse my behaviour. It was poor behaviour, and I am disappointed in myself, and in a moment of frustration, I did let the emotional side of my reaction get the better of me.”
Mr Bushnell, a former news editor of The Canberra Times, has worked in media and communications in the capital for 29 years.
He said attacks on journalists were now more common than they were earlier in his career.
“Trying to attack journalists for just doing their job is something the public should be extremely concerned about. It undermines the democratic process,” he said.
Some commenters on social media have criticised Mr Bushnell for antagonising Ms Lee.
“I reject any suggestion of being unprofessional. As a practising journalist, I’m there to ask questions on behalf of the public. For me, it gets frustrating when politicians evade or deflect questions,” Mr Bushnell said.
“Ms Lee is the only politician I’ve had these sorts of exchanges with. I’m on good terms with everyone else, and I thought I was on good terms with her.”
The ACT election is on Saturday, 19 October.
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