Aussie TV team charged over Apec stunt

It was a comedy TV
stunt, but red-faced authorities guarding Apec leaders in Sydney could
not see the funny side.

A team from the satirical ABC TV programme The Chaser's War on
Everything breached the multi-million dollar Apec security operation
yesterday by driving a fake motorcade through security checkpoints.

The convoy of three black cars, decked out to resemble an official
Canadian motorcade, came within metres of the hotel where US President
George W Bush is staying, before finally being pulled over by
authorities.

Eleven people were arrested, including The Chaser's Chas
Licciardello, who sat in the back of one of the cars dressed as Osama
bin Laden.

Also arrested was The Chaser's Julian Morrow, who posed as a security guard running alongside the motorcade.

Tonight all 11, ten men and one woman aged between 25 and 47, were
charged with entering a restricted area without justification.

The charge comes under newly legislated Apec laws that restrict anyone from entering declared zones during Apec.

Authorities had warned there would be a presumption against bail for
people arrested in the Apec security zone, but all were granted bail to
appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on October 4.

NSW police were furious about the bold prank.

"I don't see a funny side to what's happened. I don't see a funny side at all," said NSW Police Minister David Campbell.

He said The Chaser production team had disregarded specific requests from police not to go too far in their pursuit of satire.

"I'm extremely concerned people would take the sense of security so lightly."

Chaser member Craig Reucassel responded later, telling the Nine
Network: "There's about 40,000 people there – they should be able to
handle it."

Labor leader Kevin Rudd said given the heightened security environment in Sydney, the Chaser team had "crossed the line".

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the arrest of the 11 showed security worked.

He added, smiling,: "Whatever you think of the humour of The Chaser.
. .they were clearly not going to harm anybody in a physical way."

The mammoth security operation breached by the comedians accounts
for $A170 million ($NZ206.46 million) of the $A330 million bill for the
Apec summit.

"I'm not embarrassed at all, what I am is very angry that such a
stunt like this would be pulled," NSW Police Assistant Commissioner
Dave Owens said.

When asked if security would now be boosted, Mr Owens appeared to contradict himself.

"We have brought in some other measures (but) they are not over and above what we are doing," he said.

The Chaser stunt came as more dignitaries flew into Sydney for the
Apec leaders' summit, including leaders from Hong Kong, Chile, Canada,
Vietnam, Korea and Papua New Guinea.

The influx of leaders meant there were more than 100 motorcade
movements in Sydney throughout the day, with even more expected from
today, when all 21 leaders will be in Sydney.

Security hits its highest level and Sydney will enter its final stage of lockdown at 6am (AEST) today until 11pm Sunday.

The restricted zone in the north of the city will be extended from
Bridge Street into Pitt Street and the fence around the zone will
remain completely closed during that time.

Police have promised to stop and search anyone in areas near the restricted zone and apply the full force of their new powers.

NSW Deputy Premier John Watkins urged people to stay away from Sydney during today's Apec public holiday and the weekend.

Protesters yesterday turned their attention to President Hu, with
450 people gathering in Hyde Park to demonstrate against China's human
rights record.

Police originally refused to let the protesters march on the street
to Belmore Park but backed down when faced with a mass of people taking
to the footpaths.

Around 50 police, including several on trail bikes, closed one lane
of traffic on Elizabeth Street to allow the marchers safe passage.

ABC televisions Chaser team - responsible for today's APEC security breach - has released a statement saying they never intended to enter a restricted zone.

A team from The Chaser's War on Everything program sent a fake motorcade through two APEC security checkpoints this morning.

The stunt ended with the arrest of all 11 people involved, close to the US President's hotel in Sydney's CBD.

They have been granted bail on charges of entering a restricted zone without justification.

In a statement the program says they had not intended to enter the APEC restricted zone, and believed they were given permission to proceed by police.

The team says they were unaware they were actually in a restricted zone and turned around voluntarily when they thought they were about to enter the security area.

The program has reiterated that the entire stunt was intended as a joke.

But Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has condemned the stunt.

Mr Rudd told Channel Nine that while satire has a role to play, the stunt was inappropriate.

"Given the heightened security environment around Sydney that's actually just not responsible," he said.

"I'm a fan of the Chaser's, I watch their stuff, they take the mickey out of me all the time, that's fine, but I think when you've got a major security event going on in Sydney right now, I think these guys have crossed the line."