Brisbane police arrest hundreds of marchers

Press, 8 December 1978, Page 1

Brisbane police arrest hundreds of marchers

NZPA Brisbane Police tactics yesterday cut short the most determined street-march protest held in Brisbane.

About 1200 policemen, in a neatly drilled pincer movement, cut off an estimated 1000 marchers soon after they left King George Square near the city centre. Scuffles began as the first rows of marchers, eight abreast, met the police lines. Some bystanders were knocked to the ground. A policeman apparently suffered a heart attack in the crush and was taken to hospital. More than 340 protesters were arrested within the first 30 minutes of the

march, organised by the Queensland Trades and Labour Council to protest against recently introduced laws which restrict street marches.

Women and children caught on the footpaths of Albert Street, where the confrontation occurred, screamed as they were pushed heavily against plate-glass windows. Albert Street became a battleground for a few minutes but the police quickly brought a halt to isolated scuffling. They stopped several marchers who tried to burrow their way through the press of the crowd to escape arrest.

Ugly scenes occurred when some marchers de-

cided to stand their ground and trade punches with policemen. But the police team tactics soon stopped these incidents.

Policemen pushed the broken march column back into King George Square where the protesters started chanting and jeering at the police lines. Policemen made frequent forays into the crowd to pull out individuals, but an hour after the march attempt there appeared to be no willingness by the crowd to take to the streets again. The march attempt followed an hour of antiGovernment addresses by union and Australian Labour Party leaders, includ-

ing the .State Opposition leader (Mr Edward Casey), Mr Tom Uren, and the Federal A.L.P. senior VicePresident (Mr John Ducker). The Queensland Trades and Labour Council’s president (Mr Harry Hauenschild) led the march, flanked by union leaders, Mr Uren, a Queensland Labour senator, Mr George Georges, and Mr Ducker.

They were the first to be bundled into a paddywagon when the police stopped the march.

Before the march started, Mr Uren told reporters he would not seek watchhouse bail.

“I’ll be staying in all night,” he said.