Brisbane City Council clash with first nations camp at Victoria Park
Updated ,first published
Police and Brisbane City Council officers responded to First Nations protesters camping in Victoria Park, opposite the planned Olympic stadium, and five people were arrested.
Officers faced nonviolent but vocal opposition on Friday morning, and after a tense 30-minute standoff, reinforcements arrived.
Police later descended on the Goori Camp Embassy site near the center of the park at around 2.15pm after organizer Derek Oram jnr approached officers on duty at the park.
Oram Jr. “We’ve started unpacking, you can’t move us – holy fire,” he called out before approaching the officers.
Oram Jr., who initially told police they could not violate the rope fence builder around the campsite, agreed to dismantle the camp and move it out of the construction area.
“We were going to set up later, I don’t care, these municipal workers won’t be working tomorrow,” Oram jnr told his fellow protesters.
Protesters and supporters barricaded themselves between police and the campfire and tried to prevent police from putting out the fire.
Leading the initial opposition to the authorities’ move against the camps was Oram Jr.’s father, his elderly uncle Derek Oram. Oram told police and city workers they would be happy to move out of the fence once it was erected around the park on June 1.
“We were humbly told that we could gather and move behind the fence line, but are you giving us that opportunity, or is this just a publicity stunt?” An uneasy Oram border shouted as the camp was surrounded.
As anger grew, First Nations protesters lit ceremonial fires, attracting the attention of the Queensland Fire Department, who watched from inside a fire truck.
But while Camp Goori was on the Embassy grounds, workers moved to a second camp (Barrambin Djar) on a hill near the Victoria Park events centre, where what appeared to be a wedding party was watched from the balconies.
While the camp was occupied by the local Jagera people, the Goori Camp Embassy was comprised of other First Nations who showed their support. By 2pm the camp was completely cleared.
Shortly before 4 p.m., tensions flared again when municipal workers began clearing the pile of cultural wood used for the camp’s main fire.
Several dozen protesters chanting “put it back” gathered around the vehicle, which was surrounded by a police line.
After authorities left the area, protesters collected pieces of wood to light the sacred fire.
As Greens councilor Seal Chong Wah, whose Paddington District occupies most of Victoria Park, crossed the police line, a council worker told him he could cross the line to check the fire was burning.
By 16.30, the police had evacuated the camp and left the fire in the middle of the area.
More than 50 police officers cleared the scene, allowing protesters to return to the fire with wood and kindling.
Police and municipal officials stayed in the park and monitored the protesters.
Local elder Gaja Kerry Charlton was at Barrambin Djar shortly after authorities removed the tents in the early hours of Friday.
“I think it’s a shameful abuse of power to come in like this,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a low move because June 1 [when GIICA formally takes control of the site] big appointment and they shouldn’t be doing anything right now.
“…I hope they’re all okay and no one gets hurt, because it was some pretty frightening behavior, police bikes going up and down, fire trucks and everything.”
Returning to Goori Camp, Oram snr urged authorities to leave the camp when they arrived shortly after 10am. He was arrested at noon and removed from the area.
A Queensland Police Service spokesman said five arrests had been made throughout the day at around 5.30pm.
“During the first clash today, a 50-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were detained by police on charges of public nuisance, disobeying police instructions and assaulting police,” police said.
“This afternoon, police detained another 50-year-old man and a 29-year-old man for obstructing police actions and assault.
“A 32-year-old woman was also detained for disturbing the peace, but was released pending trial.”
Chong Wah said the provincial government’s legislation invalidating 15 laws regarding Olympic delivery did not eliminate important cultural heritage in the region.
“This is deeply meaningful to Aboriginal people and it’s a shame that people would do this during Reconciliation Week, not far from National Sorry Day. This is deeply offensive,” he said.
“All of you, get a hold of yourselves. Seriously, this is a shame. The Olympics are supposed to be a movement for peace. So why are we bringing nations together when you’re destroying this nation?”
“…We must respect the world’s longest-living 80,000-year-old culture, we must not humiliate or destroy it, we must embrace this rich culture.”
It was at least the second clash this week between protesters and government officials ahead of the land changing hands next Monday.
On Tuesday, the Games’ Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority, the Olympic infrastructure body tasked with building the stadium, was accused of intimidating behavior after storming a Save Victoria Park event to erect a fence.
GIICA will take possession of the land on Monday and the park will be completely closed to the public so that stadium construction can begin.
The 63,000-seat Brisbane Stadium is planned to host opening and closing ceremonies as well as track and field events in 2032.
It will be Brisbane’s new home of AFL and cricket after the Games, and will be demolished after the Gabba makes its Olympic swansong.
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