Political activist David Sharaz has had his membership application to the National Press Club rejected after the organisation he works for disrupted Pauline Hanson’s address to journalists in Canberra on Wednesday.

Left-wing campaign group GetUp immediately claimed responsibility for the stunt that involved a “drop-down screen” being lowered onto the stage as Senator Hanson was speaking to the NPC.

The NPC has referred the matter to Federal Police for investigation and in a statement on Wednesday said: “David Sharaz was seen filming the incident on his phone and, after the banner had lowered, left abruptly.”

The Nightly can reveal that GetUp’s director of campaigns and media had recently applied for NPC membership and had separately purchased a ticket to attend Senator Hanson’s first speech to the club.

During a scheduled and lengthy board meeting on Thursday morning, the NPC resolved to formally reject Mr Sharaz’s membership application, and to ban all GetUp staff from attending future events.

Sources have confirmed that NPC security video showing Mr Sharaz filming the GetUp stunt as it occurred has also been handed to police for their investigation, and the club has now launched its own internal security review.

ACT Policing has confirmed an investigation had been launched into the incident and urged anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers.

“ACT Policing has received a complaint regarding the alleged unauthorised access and interference with equipment in a building in Barton,” a spokesperson said.

“Investigations into this matter are underway including examination by AFP Forensics officers.”

GetUp has not responded to questions from The Nightly about the incident or David Sharaz’s involvement.

Asked what steps needed to be taken following the GetUp stunt the Prime Minister told reporters: “I think in general sometimes actions can be counterproductive, and I think that was as well”.

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce said the incident highlighted security fears for his party’s leader and appeared to be an “inside job”.

“Imagine if that had been a bomb. If that had been Pauline or the Prime Minister, the room would’ve been packed… blown the place sky high’’ Mr Joyce told Radio 2GB in Sydney.

Meanwhile the Federal Parliament Press Gallery committee, which represents political journalists based in Canberra, has condemned Pauline Hanson’s threats to ban certain reporters from future events.

During her National Press Club address, Senator Hanson called journalist Sarah Martin “trashy” for questions about her daughter Lee Hanson’s employment and said The Guardian reporter would be banned from future events.

“Honestly, you never give up. I have never seen a person that is such a trashy journalist, and what you put out all the time, you’ve got this obsession with constantly trying to pull down myself, my party or Mrs [Gina] Rinehart,” Senator Hanson said on Monday.

“You will be banned from my answering. I’ll answer you this question today, but I am telling you now, don’t come near me for an interview in the future.”

In a statement the Federal Parliament Press Gallery criticised Senator Hanson’s comments declaring: “the ability to scrutinise and question politicians is one of the fundamental functions of our work as journalists”.

“Against this backdrop, the Gallery Committee strongly objects to threats made by One Nation – or by any political party - to ban certain journalists and organisations from doing their jobs as important observers and interpreters of federal politics.”