Australian journalist hit with rubber bullet at US protest

An Australian senator wants the prime minister to seek an urgent explanation from US President Donald Trump after police shot an Australian TV reporter with a rubber bullet in Los Angeles.

Nine Network's US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was recording a piece to camera about protests against immigration raids when she appeared to be struck in the leg, with the incident caught live on camera.

"After hours of standing off, this situation has now rapidly deteriorated, the LAPD moving in on horseback, firing rubber bullets at protesters, moving them on through the heart of LA," Tomasi said.

Seconds later, she was shot with a rubber bullet.

Footage of the incident appeared to show an officer taking aim in the direction of Tomasi and then firing.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for media and communications, condemned the shooting.

"US authorities shooting an Australian journalist is simply shocking," she said.

"It is completely unacceptable and must be called out.

"The Prime Minister must seek an urgent explanation from the US administration."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to speak publicly on the incident.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles declined to comment on US immigration policy under President Trump, but said he was glad to hear Tomasi was OK.

"At the end of the day, how America operates its own immigration system is really a matter for the United States, and how it manages its own internal law enforcement is a matter for the United States," he told Sky News.

It follows a similar incident in 2020 when Seven Network correspondent Amelia Brace was shot by US police with non-lethal rounds and struck with a truncheon during a Black Lives Matter protest.

Brace and cameraman Tim Myers were in Washington DC's Lafayette Square when officers began aggressively clearing the area ahead of a surprise appearance by Trump.

She later told US Congress she was shot in the legs and backside and Myers was hit in the neck by non-lethal rounds from a police automatic weapon.