Actors Equity criticises Perth cops

Actors Equity criticises Perth cops

By Leon Harrison

PERTH — The WA Police Union has been slammed by Actors Equity over its defence of the Tactical Response Group intimidation of two Aboriginal actors a fortnight ago.

On the evening of September 6, Rhonda Collard and Frank Nannup were detained by armed police while returning home after performing in Richard Walley's play Munjong.

Actors Equity wrote to the Police Union expressing anger at a full page advertisement placed by the latter in the September 14 West Australian, in which Police Union secretary Ric Stingemore defended the TRG's action.

Stingemore denied the TRG action was racially motivated, denied the TRG had brandished shotguns at the actors, and denied the actors' claim that police had used abusive language. Attempting to turn the victims into the criminals, Stingemore claimed it was the actors who had used abusive language against the police.

Actors Equity spokesperson Jay Walsh criticised the police action and said Stingemore's loyalty to his officers appeared to have got out of hand.

From GLW issue 29