Newman refused to meet protesters

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman.

QUEENSLAND: Premier Campbell Newman won’t meet with protesters who demanded to see him on Wednesday after 200 police broke up an Aboriginal protest in Brisbane.

Mr Newman’s office says he has other commitments on Wednesday, including the official opening of parliament.

Police arrested more than 30 people at Musgrave Park where a tent embassy was set up in support of indigenous sovereignty.

The council called in police when the group refused to make way for this weekend’s Paniyiri Greek festival.

Some protesters then marched on parliament house demanding to see the premier.

Mr Newman angered protesters on Tuesday by saying their protest, which began two months ago, had run its course and squatters’ camps had no place in public parks.

Protest organiser Sam Watson said Mr Newman should meet with the marchers to defend the number of police sent in to dismantle the park protest.

“Even in the face of enormous provocation our men and women, and non-indigenous supporters, we’re peaceful,” he said.

“There was no need for those 250 heavily armed police to be there.”

He also said Mr Newman should abandon the Aboriginal flag pin he has worn since the election campaign.

A spokeswoman for Mr Newman said there was no time in the premier’s schedule on Wednesday for a meeting, and the premier had not received any formal request for one.

She said he would continue to wear the pin, and pointed out it was the council who had involved the police.

The protest has moved to the Roma Street police watch house.

Participants say some of those who were arrested had refused to sign bail agreements preventing them from returning to Musgrave Park.

Some of those people were expected to face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.

AAP