BERTRAM Aboriginal activist Marianne Mackay stood just metres from Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott as they scrambled under heavy police guard through hundreds of protesters in Canberra on Australia Day.
The UWA law student was in the national capital to mark the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy but claims police overreacted to protesters outside The Lobby restaurant, saying they were no threat and simply wanted to have a “yarn” with the leaders.
Pictures of a terrified Ms Gillard in the arms of a bodyguard were broadcast around the world, but Ms Mackay said the now infamous image showed the PM scared of her staff’s reaction and not the protesters.
Ms MacKay spoke to the Courier this week at her Bertram home, where she was still nursing a gash on her leg caused as she was pushed to the ground by an “aggressive” police officer during the incident.
She said the day began with a peaceful march and celebrations before the situation deteriorated because of heavy-handed police overreacting to protesters, “punching” and “shoving” people.
But Brand MHR Gary Gray said police did an effective job in difficult circumstances.
He said the actions of Ms Gillard’s press secretary tipping off protesters, Mr Abbott’s “insensitive” comments and the “violent and inappropriate” action of protesters were ill-advised.
Ms Mackay said Mr Abbott’s comments about the embassy’s future and that he was at the nearby restaurant were relayed to the crowd of about 400 people, who did not realise Ms Gillard was also there and just wanted the Opposition leader to address the protesters.
“I began tapping on the windows to get their attention so they would come out and talk with us,” she said.
“They just ignored us; we meant them no harm and there was no threat of violence.”
“We would have been quiet and respectful and let Mr Abbott or the Prime Minister respond to us; if we wanted to be violent there was 400 of us and 40 of them.”
Ms Mackay said the protesters were outside the restaurant for about 20 minutes before riot police arrived and the situation escalated.
“All of a sudden the Prime Minister was brought out and really aggressive police began shoving people out of the way. I thought why is she running away, all we wanted to do was have a yarn and they ignored us,” she said.
“We didn’t do anything wrong, we don’t need to apologise, Ms Gillard was more scared of her own security staff who were dragging her than us.”