Barack Obama’s Aussie security shuts down protesters

The tense confrontation with former US president Barack Obama’s security guards and a group of ‘independent media’ protesters has been caught on camera.

A patient Aussie security guard was forced to reason with a handful of protesters claiming to be members of an “independent media” group outside a Barack Obama speaking event.

Footage of the tense clash, which took place as staff arrived at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday evening, quickly went viral online as the dismal protest was mocked.

In the clip, a female protester boasted the group were “independent media” who were broadcasting “all around the world, instantly”.

The security guard told them he and his colleagues had not given consent to be filmed.

The woman retorted that she was being filmed 24/7 by government and other agencies.

When they were questioned about whether they had documentation for their filming, one of the women dismissed security saying: “We don’t need documentation.”

A security guard takes on a group of protesters outside a Barack Obama speaking event. Picture: Twitter

The group claimed to be “independent media” streaming their content worldwide. Picture: Twitter

“No, you do, because I am asking you what you’re doing and you’re telling me you’re reporting,” the guard replied.

The protesters asked if they were being considered a threat.

“You’re not a threat as of yet, but I need to ascertain what you’re doing here. Can I ask what you’re doing here?,” the guard calmly answered.

One of them said that they were there to film “the President of America”.

The security officer interrupted to say: “You’re being incredibly invasive in recording staff down there who’ve given no consent to be recorded either.”

One of the protesters said they were on “public’ property and so could film what they wanted”.

The guard was quick to shut down of her line of reasoning, saying: “No, excuse me. The venue is private property … So, you’re recording staff entering private property.”

A second security guard arrives with police.

A handful of armed police arrive at the scene.

Later a number of police officer arrived with a second security guard who told them: “We do respect your right to protest but you are on Melbourne Olympic Park land”.

“And if at a major event if you become obstructive or you block any of our entrances, we’ll ask you to move on down to the side of the road,” the guard said.

Social media users were not impressed with the protesters.

One tweeted “they have no life... sad but true”.

The latest drama to emerge from the multimillion-dollar Obama speaking tour came as the organisers apologised to an Aboriginal elder who was dropped from the Melbourne event.

The indigenous elder was stopped from performing a Welcome to Country ceremony – a move slammed as “abhorrent”.

Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin had been asked to open the event with the traditional ceremony on Wednesday night but she was stopped at the last minute, according to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.

The Wurundjeri elder said she was told she was being “too difficult” before she was removed from the event proceedings just hours before the talk was due to begin.

Aunty Joy said she asked the event organisers Growth Faculty to accommodate requests for her to have a support person and to provide Mr Obama with a gum leaf gift as is custom in Wurundjeri culture.

Aunty Joy Murphy Wandin was upset after being prevented from delivering a Welcome to Country. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling

But she said she was told the requests were excessive before she was removed from the event.

On Thursday, the organisers said they had apologised to Aunty Joy and blamed security issues for the decision.

“Growth Faculty holds deep respect for Australia’s traditional owners and is proud to be hosting events this week on the lands of the Wurundjeri people,” the statement said.

“Due to security requirements, the organisation was unable to accommodate last-minute changes to the agreed upon ceremony.”

The organisers noted they had worked with Aunty Joy and the Wurundjeri community “for many weeks” prior to the event.

Million-dollar paycheck for Obama

The two-term former president is in the country with his wife Michelle for ‘An Evening with President Obama’ tour.

Aussies with tickets to the hotly-anticipated event have forked out almost $200 for a standard seat, with tickets priced at a whopping $895 for a “platinum” spot.

The former president could be up for a payday of around $2m.

On Monday the sold-out audience was kept waiting for more than 20 minutes for the event to start, after it was delayed because “massive” queues were still trying to get into the International Convention Centre at the 7.45pm start time.

Barack and Michelle Obama climbing the harbour bridge.

Obama leaving The Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney. Picture: Julian Andrews

Mr Obama walked onto the stage to loud applause following a glowing introduction from Ms Bishop who described him as a global icon.

“Sydney is fantastic, we have had such a wonderful time here, it’s one of the world’s great cities,” he opened his talk with.

He then spoke about his earliest memories of Australia, visiting Sydney when he was just eight years old.

“I was travelling from Indonesia where my mother was living at the time, to my grandparents in Hawaii and I was travelling unaccompanied,” he said.

“We had to stop for a day for the connecting flight and Qantas stewardess took very good care of me.”

He said that the stewardess provided him with Coca-Cola while he read comic books.

“I had a big crush on her,” he said.

“I felt very sophisticated, very worldly, travelling on my own and so that ‘s my first association with Sydney.

“And it just keeps getting better every time I come back.”

-with Eli Green