The Australian Federal Police are reviewing the use of force during last week's tent embassy protest as Aboriginal groups call for an independent investigation into officers' ''violent'' conduct.
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The NSW Aboriginal Land Council has asked the Human Rights Commission to look into police behaviour after video footage emerged depicting officers yelling, swearing and using physical force on Australia Day last week.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott were rushed from The Lobby restaurant in Canberra when about 200 protesters taking part in tent embassy 40th anniversary celebrations marched on the restaurant.
Land Council chief executive Geoff Scott said yesterday, ''There are some serious questions that need to be addressed about the conduct of officers, particularly after the Prime Minister and Opposition leader had been removed from the demonstration.''
Mr Scott said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda - whose position was created following the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody and a national inquiry into racist violence - was right person to conduct the investigation.
The Australian Federal Police said standard procedure dictated the force would review officers' conduct during the incident, including by its internal affairs unit.
''Standard AFP procedure when any use of force option is employed is to review those actions to ensure that they were appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances involved in the incident, and this includes a review by the AFP's Professional Standards area,'' a spokeswoman said.
But she would not comment on any potential independent investigation.
