More than 30 police officers have arrived at Musgrave Park where Indigenous activists have vowed to defend the sacred flame that they have re-lit after the site was cleared late Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Brittany Vonow Source: The Courier-Mail
West End's Aboriginal tent embassy has been closed after Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk withdrew official consent for protesters to continue inhabiting the site. Source: The Courier-Mail
West End's Aboriginal tent embassy has been closed after Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk withdrew official consent for protesters to continue inhabiting the site. Source: The Courier-Mail
A GROUP of indigenous activists have re-lit a sacred flame at the Aboriginal tent embassy in Brisbane and will guard the site through the night.
BREAKING: Police have moved in on the Aboriginal tent embassy site in Musgrave Park, arresting several people.
12.45am: One woman who wished to be only known as Karen said she had been at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy site all afternoon, and said she was unimpressed with the police presence.
"We will still rebuild, we'll wait until everyone can get together again," she said.
Most of the police have now left.
12.35am: The main group of protesters has dispersed, moving to the outskirts of the park where they have continued to protest.
A heavy police presence of up to 80 officers are being abused by protesters at the edges of Musgrave Park.
Brisbane City Council workers have completely removed the wood from the site as police continue to guard the area.
12.30am: About 15 people standing on the edge of the park are continuing to protest.
Police are letting one man take some embers from the main fire.
12.25am: One of the protest leaders, Wayne Wharton, was arrested by police.
With one fire out and police guarding the other, Brisbane City Council workers are taking away the firewood.
12.20am: After gathering on the edges of Musgrave Park, more than 30 police officers stormed the Aboriginal tent embassy site, pulling protesters away from fires that had been re-lit.
Police then formed a cordon around the fires before firefighters moved in to douse the sacred flames.
MORE TO COME
Earlier reports:
Activists called an early-morning press conference for Wednesday after Brisbane City Council announced it would remove the tent embassy at the request of indigenous elders.
But embassy spokesman Wayne Wharton told AAP late on Tuesday that about 40 "warriors" later decided to re-light a fire at the site, which includes coals from embassy fires in Moree and the original tent embassy in Canberra, and would stay put to guard it.
He said police officers and fire brigade units had begun gathering at the Musgrave Park site.
"The only thing we're missing now is the military," he said.
"This time, we'll defend it."
A police spokesman could not confirm a ramped-up police presence at the site on Tuesday night, telling AAP all inquiries were being referred to the city's council.
A Queensland Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman told AAP some firefighters were at the site but was unable to say why.
Mr Wharton said it was untrue that the city had the indigenous community's backing.
Pressed on whether he believed violence could erupt overnight, Mr Wharton said he would use "whatever means possible" to defend the tent embassy.
"There are a number of warriors here that will defend it," he said.
EARLIER:
WEST End's Aboriginal tent embassy was closed down late Tuesday afternoon after Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk withdrew official consent for protesters to continue inhabiting the Musgrave Park site.
The development came in response to requests from local indigenous leaders, who had raised concerns about the embassy's ongoing presence in the park.
Mr Quirk said members of Brisbane's indigenous community had serious concerns about the site, including fears it lacked adult supervision and was becoming violent and choked with rubbish.
"This action is being taken strictly at the request of local elders," Mr Quirk said in a statement on Tuesday.
"We have a very good working relationship with Brisbane's indigenous community and if they tell me that the tent embassy has lost its way and needs to close, then I respect that decision."
A delegation of elders joined Cr Quirk in Musgrave Park late this afternoon, as Uncle Des Sandy, of the Yuggera people, formally requested the protesters move on.
They agreed after Cr Quirk gave an undertaking a sacred fire burning in the campsite would not be interfered with.
Council officers moved in on the site to assist with the disassembling of tents.
The operation has so far proceeded without incident.
Protesters have inhabited the park since earlier this year.
The site was thrown in to the spotlight in May when police moved in to evict protesters in the lead up to the annual Paniyiri Greek festival (see the pictures here).
Cr Quirk eventually gave permission for the embassy to remain in another section of the park in the wake of angry protests.
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