Fresh scuffles broke out between some protesters and police overnight at Brisbane's Victoria Park, after wild scenes erupted during the removal of an Indigenous protest camp on Friday to make way for the construction of the city's new Olympic stadium.
The 'Goori Camp Embassy' said police forced protesters in the park to leave the 'sacred fire' at about 1am on Monday.
Protesters could be heard shouting 'shame' as a large group of Queensland Police moved in, with one man in a high-vis vest seen getting a sharp push backwards from an officer.
'On the 71st day of the Sacred Fire, Goori Camp Embassy was ambushed and forcibly removed from their right to practice their spiritual connection to country and waters,' the group said in a statement.
'Traditional custodian Deejay Sandy led the processional to establish the sacred fire higher on the water table. We will keep standing on Country in sacred ceremony.'
News.com.au does not suggest Sandy engaged in any wrongdoing.
Comment has been sought from the protesters.
Background of the Protest
The group had moved to a new location in the park after the Goori Camp Embassy, established to block the planned $3.6 billion centrepiece stadium for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, was torn down on Friday in violent scenes.
At least 40 police officers converged on the site alongside firefighters and Brisbane City Council staff. Tensions escalated as authorities gave campers a 2pm deadline to pack up and leave.
By about 2.20pm, officers moved in and started taking down the camp.
While one group departed the park peacefully, a larger faction of some protesters refused to budge, chanting, 'always was, always will be Indigenous land'.
Police were seen tackling and arresting several people in the chaos.
'You came into this place, this ceremony, disrespected our law on my land! Sacred lands!' one furious protester told 7News Brisbane.
'We're not going,' another protester was seen telling police.
Police Response and Charges
'The Queensland Police Service (QPS) continues to support partner agencies at Victoria Park today as they engage with the community, offer support services, and undertake compliance actions where necessary,' Queensland Police said in a statement on Monday.
'The focus remains on maintaining community safety and ensuring the wellbeing of all involved. There have been no persons charged overnight. The QPS remains committed to working collaboratively with the community and our partner agencies to ensure public safety.'
Five people were taken into custody on Friday, with four now facing charges.
'During today's initial engagement, a 50-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were taken into police custody in relation to public nuisance, contravening police direction and assault police offences,' police said on Friday.
'This afternoon, police took another 50-year-old man and a 29-year-old man into custody, in relation to obstruct and assault police offences. A 32-year-old woman was also taken into custody for breach of peace, however, was released without charge.'
In an updated statement on charges, police said the 38-year-old woman had been charged with assault police and contravene direction, and the 29-year-old man with two counts each of assault and obstruct police.
One of the 50-year-old men was charged with one count of obstruct justice, and the other with one count of public nuisance.
All four will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 1.
Construction Begins
Ownership of the parkland was transferred to the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) on Monday, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie turning the sod ahead as fencing began to go up.
The site will be fenced off for five years.
Activists argue the park holds recognised historic Aboriginal gathering significance, and the group is currently awaiting a federal decision on an application for cultural heritage protection. However, the state government bypassed several heritage and planning laws last year to fast-track the build.
Mr Bleijie warned that outstanding federal challenges would not delay the project, citing safety risks once the area becomes an active construction zone.
The Labor opposition was forced to postpone an 11am press conference at the park on Friday due to the chaos, while Greens MP Michael Berkman labelled the council's response as 'heavy-handed and unnecessary'.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated that the council was working closely with police to ensure the state takes seamless possession of the land.
'There is a right to protest but also the people of Queensland expect us to get on with this project and we don't have time to lose,' Mr Schrinner said.
