Protesters and dozens of police have engaged in combat during a standoff over Brisbane’s proposed Olympic stadium at Victoria Park.
On Friday, police and council officers forcibly moved protesters protesting the proposed 2032 Olympic venue, leading to five arrests.
The location has been occupied for months by First Nations organizations and activists who set up an Aboriginal tent embassy. They have stated that they will remain there even after construction on the $3.6 billion stadium begins on Monday.
According to the groups, the region, which the Turrbal and Yagara peoples refer to as Barrambin, is a holy ancient encampment, burial ground, and location for “sorry business,” an essential cultural ritual for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities after a death or loss.
Shouts of “shame” echoed across the park on Friday as tents and other belongings were disassembled and seized, and a man and a woman were arrested for obstructing and assaulting police officers.
Police issued a 2 p.m. deadline for others to leave the park after arrests were made in the morning, but when word got out, more demonstrators came to the park to protect the place.
Police started forcibly removing demonstrators just after 2:00 pm while erecting barricades and demolishing tents.
Three more persons were arrested later in the day, a Queensland Police Service (QPS) spokesperson told Daily Mail on Friday night.
During a standoff over Brisbane’s proposed Olympic stadium at Victoria Park on Friday, a demonstrator was brought down by police.
For months, protestors and First Nations organizations have taken over the location.
Work on the proposed Olympic stadium at Victoria Park will begin on Monday, despite objections from a variety of groups. “During today’s initial engagement, a man and a woman were taken into police custody in relation to obstruct and assault police offences,” the spokesperson stated.
“The QPS is dedicated to continuing to work with the community and our partner agencies.” “This afternoon, police took a 50-year-old man and a 29-year-old man into custody in relation to obstruct and assault police offenses.” “A 32-year-old woman was also taken into custody for breach of peace, but was released without charge.”
While some demonstrators pledged to remain at the camp for as long as it was humanly feasible, others sang “always was, always will be Indigenous land.”
Protesters claim that by accelerating the construction of the 63,000-seat stadium without enough consultation, the government disregarded their human rights.
On Monday, the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority will take ownership of the land.
As the authority moves forward with the development and construction of the new Brisbane Stadium and National Aquatic Centre, consultation with Traditional Owners will continue.
When police arrived in Victoria Park to remove tents, a protester got into a fight with them.
Police drag a protester away.
As they cleared tents from the area, police erected barricades.
On Friday, police take a protester away.
In 2025, the state government transformed Victoria Park to freehold land and exempted it from planning, environmental, and heritage legislation.
Up to fifty police officers and municipal employees reportedly showed up at the location on Friday morning, according to Yagara Elder Gaja Kerry Charlton.
In accordance with section 10 of the federal Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act, Ms. Charlton has contested the proposal.
According to the statute, if federal Environment Minister Murray Watt is convinced that the land has unique Indigenous value, he has the authority to stop the construction.
However, earthmoving equipment will be able to reach the site and begin work next week despite the ongoing legal fight.
“I believe the state is in trouble under this kind of leadership of bulldozing and dismissing our voices,” Ms. Charlton stated. “If we cannot trust in our governmental processes, we are in trouble.”
“A city, a state, a nation, and a globe are not going to be held hostage to a group of people who are making a political point,” stated Queensland Premier David Crisafulli last week, confirming that the planned construction would not be halted.
