Watch as Australian reporter struck by a rubber bullet while covering escalating L.A. protests
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As things escalate, Tomasi and her cameraman try to stay to the side, but masked protesters interfere with her and the camera, forcing 9News to cut away.
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Speaking with colleague Peter Overton later that night, Tomasi, who kept working after being struck, said it's the risk journalists take.
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'I'm OK. My cameraman Jimmy and I are both safe. This is just one of the unfortunate realities of reporting on these kinds of incidents,' she said in an area now entirely cleared of protesters.
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Their employer echoed her statement and said the duo would continue to cover the happenings.
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'This incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting from the frontlines of protests, underscoring the importance of their role in providing vital information,' Nine said in a statement.
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Back in Australia, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young called it 'shocking' and 'completely unacceptable' on BlueSky and urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the matter directly with U.S. President Donald Trump.
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Per The Guardian, Senator Matt Canavan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that 'a detailed investigation' is required, while Senator Nick McKim said government should immediately 'make its displeasure at what happened abundantly clear … at the highest possible level.'
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Meanwhile, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a statement to say that the country 'supports media freedom and the protection of journalists,' who should be able to work in safety.
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