Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard stumbled and was caught by a security guard as riot police helped her force a path through a crowd of rowdy protesters following a ceremony to mark Australia's national day on Thursday.
She was unharmed and later remarked that she was made of “pretty tough stuff” and commended police for their actions.
Some 200 supporters of indigenous rights had surrounded a Canberra restaurant and banged its windows while Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott were inside officiating at an award ceremony.
Around 50 police escorted the political leaders from a side door to a car.
Ms. Gillard stumbled, losing a shoe. Her personal security guard wrapped his arms around her and supported her to the waiting car, shielding her from the angry crowd.
The protesters had been demonstrating for indigenous rights nearby at the so-called Aboriginal Tent Embassy, a ramshackle collection of tents and temporary shelters in the national capital that is a centre point of protests against Australia Day.
Australia Day marks the arrival of the first fleet of British colonists in Sydney on January 26, 1788.
Many Aborigines call it Invasion Day because the land was settled without a treaty with traditional owners. Mr. Abbott appeared to be the target of protesters, who shouted “shame” and “racist” outside the restaurant.
The Tent Embassy celebrated its 40th anniversary on Thursday.
Mr. Abbott had earlier angered indigenous activists by saying it was time the embassy “moved on”.
Ms. Gillard was unharmed and later hosted another Australia Day function for foreign Ambassadors at her official residence. “The only thing that angers me is that it distracted from such a wonderful event,” Ms. Gillard told reporters.
“I am made of pretty tough stuff and the police did a great job,” she added. —
Keywords: Australia Day, Australian aborigines, Julia Gilliard, Tony Abbott, Australia indigenous rights
In the book 'to kill a mocking bird' there is a paragraph about how one is made to feel the feeling of others by being in the affected shoes.This incident remind me and begs the question of how the actual people of australia-the indegineous race felt when the whiteman rudely entered their country some years in the 1800's and were killed them on many instances needlessly.so experience is a better master.To those who feel their behaviour is wrong ask yourself this question,who provoked them and how the police conducted themselves and finally the opposition leader'TONY ABOUT TURN' conducted himself too.lets be fair to the actual issue not interpreting as we want to.Who speaks for the aborigines in white dominated australia.
Just a few additional details. Mr Abbott didn't call for the tent embassy to close. He was asked by a journalist whether the tent embassy was still relevant and he said that it had probably done its job and that its supporters might move on. He didn't say it should close, didn't call for its closure and didn't insult the protesters. Then some of those gathered in Canberra misrepresented his words, stirred up the crowd and this childish demonstration ensued. It is worth mentioning that senior Aboriginal leaders have this morning condemned the actions of the protesters. The whole fracas can be overstated, but it would be a shame if the accessibility of our political leaders were curtailed because of concerns of for their security. Finally, it should be noted that Ms Gillard was concerned for the safety of Abbott and behaved graciously. He looked very nervous, quite surprising in an Oxford blue for boxing.
Disgraceful behaviour! This is not my Australia....not the Australia I grew up in. We, individually, may not support all issues, all Prime Ministers et. al. but this behaviour is abhorant. Certainly time for this tent city to be disbanded as it is causing nothing but distress. I hope both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott are O.K. Indiginous peoples are heard in parliament, in the social scene and many other ways and this does nothing to advance any cause they may think they have and is only sensationalised across the world to no good purpose. This behaviour is not acceptable.
Please Email the Editor