Oz PM,Opp leader ‘rescued’ amid Australia Day protests

The two leaders,had been at a ceremony for the inaugural National Emergency Medals as the country marked Australia Day,were escorted out of The Lobby restaurant by bodyguards and into a waiting car as protesters were pushed back by a line of Australian Federal Police officers.

Gillard stumbled and lost a shoe as she was rushed from the building,but was unhurt,The Australian reported.

The Lobby is just metres away from the Tent Embassy,which was established 40 years ago tomorrow.

Abbott had reportedly angered them by suggesting it was time for the camp to come down.

The incident was sparked by comments made by Abbott made earlier in the day,which were interpreted as a call to disband the Tent Embassy.

“Look,I can understand why the Tent Embassy was established all those years ago. I think a lot has changed for the better since then,” he had said in Sydney.

“I think a lot has changed for the better since then. We had the historic apology just a few years ago,one of the genuine achievements of Kevin Rudd as prime minister.

“I think the indigenous people of Australia can be very proud of the respect in which they are held by every Australian and yes,I think a lot has changed since then and I think it probably is time to move on from that,” Abbott was quoted as saying.

Protester Kalara Gilbert said the crowd was angered by Abbott’s comments.

“Some people found out that they were at that restaurant so we thought we’d take the fight to the people,” Gilbert said.

“What Tony Abbott said was disgraceful. Our people are living in awful third world conditions,they’re dying and this government just continues to turn a blind eye to it.”

Aboriginal activists from the embassy are demanding the Prime Minister sign a treaty of sovereignty granting ownership of Australian land to its indigenous peoples.

The tent embassy was established in 1972 by four men as a protest against the prime minister of the time’s refusal to acknowledge indigenous land rights.