Controversial Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has been accused of misleading the producers of the ABC's Four Corners by falsely identifying herself in footage of activists getting arrested at an anti-apartheid protest.
But Senator Rhiannon has hit back, rejecting claims she tried to "rewrite history" and saying she simply made an honest mistake after being shown a grainy black and white still shot, rather than the full footage.
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Greens senator accused of lying
Lee Rhiannon has been accused of rewriting history, by claiming she's the woman captured on film being arrested at a protest back in 1971.
Monday night's program focused on the infighting between Senator Rhiannon's hard-left NSW faction and the rest of the party.
One scene showed two women getting dragged away by police at the 1970s protest, one of whom was highlighted and said to be Senator Rhiannon. The program team showed Senator Rhiannon a screenshot from the footage and she said she believed it was her.
However academic and former Labor politician Meredith Burgmann says the footage - taken from a protest against the Springboks at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1971 - is actually of her and her sister Verity.
"It is inconceivable that Lee could not recognise herself in clear footage. I'm not sure she was even arrested during the campaign. Why has she sought to rewrite her past in this way?" the former president of the NSW upper house told the left-wing Challenge Magazine.
"Verity received a heavy fine and I received a two-month jail sentence for our actions. We're a bit miffed that Lee gets to claim the bust!"
Dr Burgmann has been arrested 21 times for her activism and claims to be the only Australian ever jailed for running on to a sports ground.
But Senator Rhiannon said she was also arrested alongside her then-boyfriend, Bill Berry, at a Sydney anti-apartheid protest against the Springboks.
"When I was interviewed by Louise Milligan I was shown a grainy black and white photo. I was not shown film footage. I was told the photo was from the ABC archives and they thought the photo was of me and Bill," she posted on social media.
"My recollection of the arrest was that I was led away by the police and Bill was dragged away. This is what the photo showed and I said the photo looked like when Bill and I were arrested.
"I have not sought to rewrite my history as Meredith Burgmann has written. I am proud that I participated in protests against apartheid South Africa. A united left expressing international solidarity was so important to ending that regime."
Senator Rhiannon says she has sought clarification from the ABC about the photo and what led them to believe it was a photo of her.
The ABC's Sally Jackson said: "Four Corners checked the image in question with Senator Rhiannon, who told the program team she believed it was of her. Given the doubt that has subsequently been raised, the image has been removed from the story."
Former NSW Premier Morris Iemma has also criticised Senator Rhiannon's "poor form".