The WA premier has sent a scathing letter to Ita Buttrose about a Four Corners crew’s presence during a planned protest at the Woodside chief’s home.

August 4, 2023

West Australian Premier Roger Cook has complained to ABC chair Ita Buttrose about the broadcaster’s “complicity” in a planned protest at the home of energy giant Woodside’s chief.

A Four Corners television crew was with three climate activists when counter-terrorism police arrested the protesters outside chief executive Meg O’Neill’s Perth home on Tuesday.

Mr Cook wrote he had “serious concerns” over the incident to “allegedly protest, vandalise and, in the process, terrorise Ms O’Neill and her family”.

He said he was doubtful the Disrupt Burrup Hub campaigners would have targeted Ms O’Neill’s property if the ABC crew were not present to publicise the “appalling actions”.

“The fact that an ABC TV crew attended the home of a private citizen to document the committing of alleged criminal acts is a cause for great concern and morally wrong,” Mr Cook said.

“It is difficult to comprehend how a TV crew could not understand how their presence at a private residence only encouraged these activists.

“Wittingly or unwittingly, the ABC was complicit.”

The ABC previously said a Four Corners team attended the property to gather material for a potential report and did not know about the protest plan.

“Just prior to the action the team received a tip to go to an address, they had no knowledge of what was at the address or that it was someone’s house,” a spokeswoman said.

She said the camera crew and reporter did not trespass onto Ms O’Neill’s property and in “no way colluded with the activists”.

Three men and a woman have been charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Two appeared in court on Wednesday and were released on bail.

The other two are scheduled to appear later in the month.