Andrew Leeson

A collection of video journalism shot, edited and produced for Agence France-Presse (AFP) by Andrew Leeson. More details at amleeson.com and links below

Full stories:

‘Nobody can stop water’: Fijians brace for relocation as sea level rises

amleeson.com/fijiclimate

Australia's volunteer brigades eye return of devastating fires

amleeson.com/fire

The Indigenous guardians of Australia's vast north

amleeson.com/norforce

Communities react to historic Indigenous rights referendum in Australia

amleeson.com/voice

'Bite Club': Shark attack survivors find solace in unity

amleeson.com/sharkattacks

Triumphant Marcos faces high expectations from Philippines' poor

amleeson.com/manila

A short edit of three feature stories published to AFPTV's international clients ready for broadcast and edits. All shot, produced and edited by Andrew Leeson.

For the full edits as published:

amleeson.com/mouseplague

amleeson.com/manila

amleeson.com/floods

A collection of video journalism published via Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Australian Associated Press (AAP) between 2019 - 2021 . All work shot, edited and produced by Andrew Leeson

Years after unprecedented fires ripped through large swathes of Australia's east, volunteer brigades on the frontlines are bracing for a return to catastrophic conditions.

"It's like we have been forgotten," says Peggy Slater, an Indigenous resident of Binjari, which is home to over 300 Aboriginal people. She hopes that most of her community vote "yes" on a historic October 14 referendum on Aboriginal rights, in the so-called Voice referendum would give Indigenous Australians the constitutional right to be consulted on policies that affect them.

Indigenous people -- whose ancestors have lived on the continent for about 60,000 years -- have shorter lives than other Australians, poorer education and are far more likely to die in police custody. If the referendum passes, Indigenous Australians will be recognised in the constitution for the first time

A selection of video work shot for Australian Associated Press; all work produced, edited and shot by Andrew Leeson and published through the national wire.

Feature article here

August 1, 2019. The residents of the NSW border town of Mungindi speak with AAP as the area experiences the worst drought in living memory with its impact continuing to deepen throughout the state. The town remains on bore water but the grip of the disaster continues to squeeze the local economy and environment. A volunteer group also arrives to deliver water and other supplies to those in need in the town. "People here that I went to school with that are struggling, that don't have feed for their stock, that don't have water in their dams, that are not sure how to get through because they've never been through this sort of struggle before," NSW Ambulance Intern Paramedic Kerralyn Matterson says of the impact on the town. Mungindi Grasshoppers RLFC President John Robertson says the town has struggled before and despite people blaming many issues including cotton farming, he looks on with stoicism. "Something will crack sooner or later mate, and yeah. What do you do, you know? You just battle along, keep going mate. That's part of being Australian," he says. Included in the package is a near-miss with a kangaroo, no animals were harmed in the making of this video. Those interviewed in the feature are: Mungindi Grasshoppers RLFC President John Robertson, NSW Ambulance Intern Paramedic Kerralyn Matterson, Mungindi resident Noel Thompson, Moree Plains Shire Mayor Katrina Humphries, Mungindi resident Leslie Carley, Lanz Priestley from Sydney's 24-7 Street Kitchen and Safe Space Community, volunteer driver Ethan Pinner and Mungindi Grasshoppers RLFC Vice President Garry Prince. All footage was shot on June 14-16, 2019. This feature is accompanied by an article and photos available on the wire. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson)

September 12, 2019. Louth, an outback NSW town of 43, swells to thousands during its annual cup race meeting on August 10, 2019. Amid drought the gathering becomes a place to unwind for those around the state. "They're rare now, these race meetings," Condobolin trainer Mark Ward. "If we get a hot summer, which we will, and we don't get more rain — we'll all be back feeding again. So this gives everyone a bit of a break from it, brings everyone together," Louth Turf Club President Jim Strachan says. Speaking to AAP are local shearer James Jones, Louth resident Patsy Duncan, Louth Turf Club President Jim Strachan, Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb and Condobolin trainer Mark Ward. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson and Hannah Higgins)

September 26, 2018. Martha Ojulo speaking to media through an interpreter about the murder of her son Liep Gony in Melbourne 11 years ago before leading a crowd of supporters and family to a memorial outside Victorian state parliament. Ojulo, speaking on September 25, says she is proud of her son and believes his case was treated poorly because he was a refugee from South Sudan. Her son Liep Gony, then 18, was killed in southeast Melbourne in 2007 by two Caucasian youths Clinton David Rintoull and Dylan Giuseppe Sabatino. Over one hundred people gathered to lay roses and listen to speeches from several members of Gony's family, including his cousin Nyawech Fouch. Fouch, part-way through her speech, collapses in tears screaming: "This is still going to happen to another child, this is not over." Fouch also says false media coverage demonising the African community is causing more trauma. Ojulo also says there is a need for politicians to change the way they talk about the issue of crime in the community to stop any other young African person being killed because of their race. In 2009, when Rintoull was sentenced the court heard he left his home yelling: "I am going to take my town back, I'm looking to kill the blacks," before beating Gony 15 times over the head with a metal pole. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson)

July 20, 2018.(EDS NOTE: LANGUAGE WARNING) Over 100 anti-fascist protesters block a highway outside far-right Canadian provocateurs Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux's speaking event in Somerton in Melbourne's north. Police deployed capsicum spray and mounted units to bring the crowd under control as they surrounded a bus carrying attendees to the venue. Right-wing activist Neil Erikson also antagonises the crowd before being removed by police in several confrontations with attendees. A heavy police presence including air, mounted and public order response officers eventually forced protesters off the highway cornering them against a fence. Protesters eventually left peacefully as police blocked the entrance to the venue. Inside, Ms Southern's speech was interrupted by protesters with banners and chanting "racism off our streets", according to the Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance group. The young provocateur is known for her controversial views on multiculturalism, Islam and feminism and was banned in March from entering the UK. (AAP VIDEO/Andrew Leeson)

August 30, 2018. Melbourne Fire Brigade Acting Deputy Chief Ken Brown speaking to media near the scene of a huge factory fire in Footscray in Melbourne's west. Brown says there are about 30 trucks on scene battling the blaze as they work to bring it under control. Huge plumes of black smoke are pouring from the fire and can be seen from kilometres away. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson)

April 18, 2018. A look at the proposed Adani Carmichael Mine in the Galilee Basin in Queensland and the debate the mine is causing. The mine would be Australia’s largest coal mine and has sparked widespread protests in opposition while both the state and federal government are in support of the jobs and coal royalties it promises. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson)

October 4, 2018. Opposition leader Bill Shorten and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaking to media at a childcare centre in Melbourne's south east about a new $5 billion package providing part-time kindergarten for three-year-olds in the state. Shorten says if his party wins government he'll roll a similar plan out nationally, giving about 700,000 three and four-year-old children a minimum of 15 hours a week of preschool or kindergarten. Andrews, who is facing a state election in November, says his plan will go ahead with or without federal assistance but a Labor partnership would free-up more funding in the state. Among those accompanying the two leaders to tour the centre are deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek and opposition early childhood education spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson)

May 17, 2018. Australian Army Commander of Forces, Command Major General Gus McLachlan speaking to media at the Combined Armed Training Centre in Puckapunyal, Victoria about the annual firepower display. McLachlan says the exercises show the reality of the weapons used in warfare and helps train young soldiers. Exercise Chong Ju Victoria includes several tanks firing on targets, an airstrike and helicopters firing different weapons.

February 6, 2019. Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters from the sixth Aviation Regiment conduct flying training over Sydney Harbour. Up to five Black Hawk helicopters will conduct flying training around Sydney, Canberra and Mudgee from February to March, as part of exercises to train for flying in urban and rural environments. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson)

November 24, 2018. Newly re-elected Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaking to a large crowd of supporters in Melbourne about winning the state election. Andrews, in delivering his victory speech, thanked his supporters and family but also says he will be focused on bringing unity after a divisive election campaign. (AAP VIDEO/Andrew Leeson)

October 26, 2018. Victorian Traditional Owners Land Justice Group Co-Chair Uncle Bobby Nicholls speaking to a crowd in Melbourne about a statement sent to the Victorian government rejecting the current treaty process with indigenous people. Nicholls says the process is flawed because not all groups have an equal voice at the table during the process. Victorian Greens MP Lidia Thorpe tells the crowd, which gathered at Birrarung Marr, the Andrews government should be ashamed to even say the word self-determination as the treaty process has been taken away from indigenous people. She also called for a truth and reconciliation council, similar to the one conducted in South Africa, to precede any treaty. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson)

May 10, 2018. Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton speaking to former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard at an event in Melbourne about the misogynistic attacks women in positions of power face. Gillard talks about being branded a witch and Clinton says current US President Donald Trump attacks women's appearances because it plays to sexist mindsets. Clinton spoke at Women World Changers series event in her first stop of an Australian tour. (AAP VIDEO/Andrew Leeson)

December 12, 2018. Protesters gather outside Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek's office in Sydney calling for Labor to stop Adani's Queensland coal mine. Stop Adani's Redfern group member Jason Wu speaking to AAP about the protest says Labor needs to make their stance clear on the mega-mine. The action was part of a day national sit-ins outside Labor leaders' offices. (AAP Video/Andrew Leeson and Benita Kolovos)