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Footage of Brittany Higgins' husband David Sharaz has been referred to police after the banner stunt that dramatically interrupted Pauline Hanson's National Press Club address.
A projector screen dropped behind the One Nation leader mid-speech on Wednesday afternoon. A banner was attached which said: 'I opposed a pay rise to workers while I took a $100,000 pay rise for myself.'
Sharaz, GetUp!'s media and campaigns lead, was seated in the audience and is understood to have appeared visibly amused as chaos briefly unfolded.
The moment jolted the room and prompted a furious response from organisers, who immediately arranged for the banner to be torn down.
Serious questions are now being raised about how the activist group gained access to the Press Club in advance of Senator Hanson's speech.
NPC President, Sky News journalist Tom Connell, hinted the Press Club was aware of who the culprit was.
'I can say the people doing this were not connected any way to the Press Club,' he said on Wednesday afternoon. It appears from vision we have looked at so far that [they] have been able to get access to the building yesterday, not today,' he said.
The National Press Club confirmed the relevant footage of the incident and other evidence had been referred to the Australian Federal Police.
GetUp, who employ Sharaz, has claimed responsibility for the banner stunt behind Hanson
'The National Press Club can confirm that the incident to disrupt Senator Hanson's Address was undertaken by third parties,' a spokesman said.
'No club personnel or club contractors had any involvement in this matter.
'We have referred the relevant footage and other evidence to the AFP for further investigation.
'The organisation 'Get Up' is claiming credit for the stunt. The 'Get Up' representative at the address was David Sharaz.
'At time of writing, we understand he is yet to be interviewed by the AFP.'
The National Press Club apologised to Hanson and said two people entered the building without permission and installed the separate drop-down screen.
'It is evident that a further person present during the Address activated a remote device to trigger the unfurling of the coiled banner,' the spokesman said.
'David Sharaz was seen filming the incident on his phone and, after the banner had lowered, left abruptly.
David Sharaz (pictured) was in attendance at the National Press Club for Hanson's speech
'We understand that this is likely to form part of the AFP investigation.
GetUp! openly confirmed its role in the stunt in a three-word statement issued immediately following the speech's conclusion: 'It was us.'
The group's CEO Paul Ferris celebrated the protest.
'Pauline Hanson has built her entire brand on being for the battlers. But her record tells a different story,' he said.
'One Nation has consistently opposed wage rises, affordable childcare, increases to the aged pension, and housing affordability measures.
'We thought the occasion deserved some honesty. So we provided it.'
Press Club chief Maurice Reilly acted in real time after the banner emerged, demanding it be removed.
'We are not doing stunts, we are at the Press Club,' Reilly said sharply.
Sharaz (left) and Higgins (right) both declared bankruptcy late last year over legal costs
The incident has been described as unprecedented.
Hanson asked Connell if it was the 'first' time such an incident had happened at the Press Club after her speech.
'I believe it is,' Connell said.
'I get a lot of firsts in my life,' Hanson replied.
Bruce Lehrmann - who the Federal Court found to have raped Brittany Higgins by the civil balance of probabilities - quickly seized on the moment, taking to X to suggest Sharaz's awareness of the protest was obvious.
'Pretty easy investigation. You just zero in on GetUp's bankrupt head of campaigns who was sitting front row laughing,' he said.
'Who sponsored his seat etc., then follow the cameras. Could see it coming from a mile away.
'Then again, never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake. Massive own goal.'
Lehrmann also took aim at Sharaz personally, referencing his recent bankruptcy following high-profile legal battles.
Sharaz was declared bankrupt by the Federal Court after former WA senator Linda Reynolds initiated proceedings, shortly after Brittany Higgins was also declared bankrupt.
The rulings came after a defamation case in which Higgins and Sharaz were found to have defamed Reynolds, with Higgins ordered to pay $315,000 plus interest.
Daily Mail approached Sharaz for comment.
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