New video footage appears to prove that Unions ACT secretary Kim Sattler may have helped spark the Aboriginal tent embassy protest at Canberra's Lobby Restaurant which marred Australia Day.
The ABC TV footage, which emerged last night, shows tent embassy representative Barbara Shaw speaking with a woman, who can't be seen, but whose voice can be heard.
The ABC's 7.30 program identified the unseen woman as Ms Sattler. The video shows the woman revealing to Ms Shaw the whereabouts of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
''They're both in a reception at the Lobby Restaurant which is just up the corner,'' the woman says on the footage.
''And Abbott's just made a statement to the press that the tent embassy should be pulled down ... he's over there.''
Ms Shaw is then heard repeating what she's just heard to a crowd.
''Over there,'' she shouts.
The Canberra Times could not contact Ms Sattler for comment last night. She reportedly told the ABC she would not comment because the video footage was now the subject of a police investigation.
Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott were escorted from the Canberra restaurant last month after it was surrounded by protesters enraged by comments Mr Abbott made about the tent embassy.
Up until last night Ms Sattler said she did not tell the protesters Mr Abbott said the embassy should be pulled down.
Prime ministerial staffer Tony Hodges resigned over the Australia Day fracas after admitting he had spoken to Ms Sattler and told her Mr Abbott was at the restaurant.
Ms Sattler told the Sunday Canberra Times last week her actions on January 26 ''were neither criminal nor illegal, and I certainly would not commit or encourage criminal or illegal behaviour at any public event held in Canberra''.
It is believed text messages between Ms Sattler and Mr Hodges are also part of the police investigation.
Earlier yesterday Australian Federal Police commissioner Tony Negus told a Senate inquiry there was no indication right up to the time Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott arrived at the restaurant that anything would go awry.
He said federal police began assessing the Aboriginal tent embassy's 40th anniversary plans back in December, but right up to the afternoon of Australia Day had no reason to believe there would be trouble.
ACT Indigenous Affairs Minister Chris Bourke appeared before the ACT Legislative Assembly yesterday to speak about the Australia Day incident.
Liberal MLA Jeremy Hanson asked Mr Bourke what conversations he or his office had with Ms Sattler both before and after Australia Day.
Mr Bourke said his office had directed Mr Hodges to the union official when he rang on Australia Day seeking a media comment.
Mr Bourke said his office was contacted by Unions ACT on January 27, but only in relation to a request for a contact in federal parliament who would accept a declaration of sovereignty from the tent embassy.
Mr Bourke said he had not had any conversations with Ms Gillard or the police about the tent embassy protest.
He said he understood his office had responded to an AFP request for information during the probe of the incident.
-Canberra Times
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