Pro-Palestine protesters gather outside Greek Club as PM, Premier attend dinner, one arrest made

A protester has been arrested after allegedly spitting at a police officer during a pro-Palestine protest where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Steven Miles attended a dinner.

A protester has been arrested after allegedly spitting at a police officer during a pro-Palestine protest where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Steven Miles attended the Labor Party True Believers dinner.

A Queensland Police spokesperson told The Courier Mail a 21-year-old Moorooka woman was charged with serious assault after she allegedly spat on an officer’s face.

“Police had a planned attendance at a political event in Edmondstone Street in South Brisbane tonight,” the spokesperson said.

“Approximately 250 people attended the area as a protest.”

The arrest comes after tensions boiled over in front of the Greek Club with one woman being tackled to the ground by police and escorted away from the chanting crowd.

“No other arrests or move on directions were issued, with the large crowd predominantly protesting peacefully,” police said.

Earlier, pro-Palestinian protesters swarmed the Brisbane venue.

Justice for Palestine Meanjin organised the protest to coincide with the dinner at the Greek Club at West End as they demand the Australian government and the Prime Minister “end its support and complicity in the Gaza genocide and immediately sanction apartheid Israel”.

Pro Palestine protesters pictured outside The Greek Club. No one pictured was arrested. Picture: Josh Woning

Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of Musgrave Park chanting “Labor Party you can’t hide”, “Labor Party blood on your hands” and “Albanese blood on your hands”.

There was heavy police presence at the Greek Club with tensions erupting as patrons tried to enter the dwelling.

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the Greek Club. No one pictured was arrested. Picture: Mikaela Mulveney

Video shows pushing and shoving as protesters booed two people entering the Greek Club before police intervened. The crowd continued to boo as other patrons entered the building.

Protesters swarmed federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and state MP Stirling Hinchliffe, calling them “cowards”, “murderers” and “scum”.

Both remained calm and were led by police down the path.

Protesters then began chanting “Murray Watt you can’t hide your supporting genocide”.

Queensland MP Stirling Hinchliffe arrives at the Greek Club. Picture: Josh Woning)

A police helicopter could be seen monitoring the protest from the sky.

Mr Albanese has been visiting parts of the Sunshine State ahead of the Labor Party dinner tonight, with the group forced to move the protest an hour earlier to coincide with the event.

Member for Justice for Palestine Meanjin Omar Ashour told The Courier-Mail the group was attempting to get Mr Albanese and the Labor government to understand the issues that were even brought up in his own party.

“We are calling for an immediate ceasefire (in Gaza) and we condemn the inaction of this government,” Mr Ashour said.

“Millions of people have been silenced who have tried to speak and even from within the Labor Party itself.”

A woman covers her ears as she enters the Greek Club. Picture: Josh Woning

Police have pushed the barrier of protesters back to the street as they continued to scream at, boo and swear at people entering the Greek Club.

Protesters were seen fighting the barrier, as police pleaded with them to comply due to the safety of patrons.

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the Greek Club. No one pictured was arrested. Picture: Mikaela Mulveney

Once most guests were inside, a protester scaled the building, hanging a large sign off the roof reading “ALP arms genocide”.

Activists gave speeches condemning Labor for its recent treatment of Senator Fatima Payman after she recently crossed the floor of federal parliament on the issue of Palestinian statehood.

The group labelled the entrance of ministers to the Greek Club a “walk of shame” in reference to what Senator Payman experienced at Parliament House.

“While Albo went in the back gates…he was more than prepared to let other members of the Labor Party to walk through the crowd, but he himself did not walk in,” another spokesperson said to the crowd.

“That's what Fatima would have felt.”

Mr Ashour said he hoped the “walk of shame” made ministers rethink their position.

“I hope it makes them reflect, reconsider their mistake in isolating (a senator) who had a legitimate opinion,” he said.

“If not intentional tonight, Albanese has been hiding the last nine months. He has been avoiding us for a long time.”

As speeches were occurring several guests of the dinner walked out on the balcony to take selfies and videos of the crowd.

This elicited boos and “shames” from the crowd.

Despite one incident where a protester was detained, Mr Ashour said it was the group’s aim to be heard, but peacefully.

“We strive to be peaceful at each of our protests,” he said.

A protester scaled the building to hang a banner. Picture: Mikaela Mulveney