AFP investigates banner stunt during Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club speech

Activist group GetUp! claims responsibility for incident, saying ‘we thought the occasion deserved some honesty’

The Australian federal police is investigating a protest incident during Pauline Hanson’s speech at the National Press Club after political activist group GetUp claimed responsibility for the stunt.

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, the National Press Club said it had referred the incident to police after concluding none of its own staff were involved.

About 20 minutes into Hanson’s inflammatory address on Wednesday , a banner was unfurled behind her.

The banner included an edited black-and-white picture of her with the words: “I opposed a pay rise for workers, while I took a $100,000 pay rise for myself.”

Guardian Australia has confirmed ACT policing has received the complaint about the “alleged unauthorised access and interference with equipment at a building at Barton” and were onsite on Wednesday afternoon for forensic testing.

The press club said it appeared “two persons entered the club building yesterday afternoon without permission and installed a separate drop-down screen in front of our media wall/light box”.

“It is evident that a further person present during the address activated a remote device to trigger the unfurling of the coiled banner.”

GetUp sent an email at 1.57pm with the subject line “Hanson NPC Address: It Was Us”.

The group’s chief executive, Paul Ferris, said the stunt was to draw attention to her voting record on measures to support cost of living.

“Pauline Hanson has built her entire brand on being for the battlers. But her record tells a different story. One Nation has consistently opposed wage rises, affordable childcare, increases to the aged pension, and housing affordability measures,” Ferris’ statement said.

“We thought the occasion deserved some honesty. So we provided it.”

The press club said David Sharaz, a former journalist who now works for Get Up, was at the event and was “seen filming the incident on his phone”. Sharaz is also Brittany Higgins’ husband.

“After the banner had lowered, [Sharaz] left abruptly,” the press club’s statement said.

“We understand that this is likely to form part of the AFP investigation.

“When the investigation has concluded, the club will consider its legal options against the perpetrators including recovering costs for the significant damage to the media wall/ light box.”

The press club said it understood Sharaz had not yet been interviewed by the AFP. Guardian Australia has contacted Sharaz for a response.

During the event, the press club’s chief executive, Maurice Reilly, walked onto the stage and removed the banner with another staff member.

“We’re not doing stunts, all right … we’re at the press club,” Reilly could be heard saying.

The Nationals-turned-One Nation MP, Barnaby Joyce, alleged the incident could have been an “inside job”.

“I hope they find the person. Someone obviously knows how to operate it. It’s an inside job,” Joyce said.

The press club said the stunt was undertaken by “third parties” and extended an apology to Hanson.

“No club personnel or club contractors had any involvement in this matter,” the press club’s statement said.