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Australia Day was marred and a gaping hole exposed in security planning for the Prime Minister yesterday after Julia Gillard was chaotically dragged away from a protest staged by members of Canberra's Aboriginal tent embassy.
The tent embassy activists who mobbed Ms Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at the nearby The Lobby restaurant accused Mr Abbott of inciting the riot.
But Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda last night condemned the protesters' behaviour after about 200 of them banged on the three glass sides of the restaurant chanting ''shame'' and ''racist''.
''An aggressive, divisive and frightening protest such as this has no place in debates about the affairs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples or in any circumstances,'' Mr Gooda said.
''While we need to acknowledge that there's a real anger, frustration and hurt that exists in some indigenous communities around Australia, we must not give in to aggressive and disrespectful actions ourselves.''
At least 50 police, including the riot squad, were called to the scene shortly after 2.30pm.
The two leaders, protected by police and security officers, escaped out a side door after about 20 minutes. Ms Gillard lost a shoe and almost fell to the ground as a security officer bundled her out of the restaurant and into a waiting car.
Mr Abbott was also protected as he moved behind the Prime Minister.
Protesters banged on the vehicle as it drove away and they continued to scuffle with police after it had left.
While trapped inside the restaurant, the Nine Network recorded Ms Gillard expressing her concern for Mr Abbott's safety.
''Okay, what about Mr Abbott? Where have you got him? We'd better help him through too, hadn't we?'' she told her security guard when he informed her it wasn't safe to stay much longer.
Meeting up with Ms Gillard, Mr Abbott said he was concerned the glass windows would be smashed and asked when they would leave.
''They'll let us know. We'll just pull together,'' Ms Gillard reassured him.
Neither leader would comment on the security issue last night, but The Canberra Times understands serious questions are now being asked by both camps about how the situation was allowed to get so out of control.
The security and police response to the incident has been praised, but the pre-planning is being questioned.
Last night, Ms Gillard said police had done a ''great job'' and that she was not hurt during the protest.
''I'm fine,'' she said before a function at The Lodge.
''The only thing that really kind of angers me about it is that it disrupted such a wonderful event with great people - emergency service medallists, amazing people.''
ACT Police Sergeant Chris Meagher said he was pleased with his team's reaction to the incident and described a ''minor fracas'' between police and demonstrators.
He said no one was injured and that arrests were not likely to be made.
''We believe in being quite flexible in our policing actions with these people and they've had a point to prove today and they're having their celebrations,'' Sergeant Meagher said.
The protesters were part of a larger group commemorating 40 years since the establishment of the tent embassy.
It appeared the Prime Minister's security planners did not think those celebrations posed a serious threat to her appearance next door.
It was comments made by the Opposition Leader earlier in the day that apparently sparked the riot.
In Sydney yesterday morning, Mr Abbott suggested the tent embassy had fulfilled its purpose and that life for indigenous Australians had improved since its establishment.
''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 said.
''And I think it probably is time to move on from that.''
When those words were later relayed to the gathering at the tent embassy and they discovered Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott were then nearby, a breakaway group rushed to the restaurant shouting ''shame'' and ''racist''.
When Ms Gillard's security detail let her know it was no longer safe for her to stay in the restaurant, she insisted they take Mr Abbott with them.
Aboriginal elder Fred Hooper said while it was Mr Abbott who made the comments, he was disappointed the Prime Minister did not immediately refute them.
''It's not the Prime Minister that caused this, it's the Opposition Leader,'' Mr Hooper said.
''If you want to call it a riot, he's the one who incited the riot.''
But Mr Hooper appeared to be unaware of what Mr Abbott actually said and he was under the wrong impression that the comments were made inside The Lobby restaurant only moments before the riot.
The last remaining founder of the tent embassy Michael Anderson stood by the protesters' actions.