WA uses mounted police and dogs to seize tents and valuables at Refugee Camp

7 News Report

13 March 2015

Police have left Perth's Heirisson Island after spending about an hour trying to peacefully break up the Nyoongar Tent Embassy protesters.

The campers pitched tents on the Swan River island more than a week ago, declaring it a refuge for homeless Nyoongar people and part of the national sovereignty movement.

About 50 officers including mounted, K-9 and the air wing swarmed the island on Friday afternoon after protesters failed to leave by the midday deadline.

But after about an hour, police started to leave the area, and said there were no arrests and no move-on notices issued.

The City of Perth said in a statement that one vehicle and two truckloads of camping gear were removed from Heirisson Island.

Senator Scott Ludlam, who was with the protesters tweeted: "Police have stood down. #matagarup stands."

Earlier in the day, protester Bella Bropho said the camp wasn't going to give up without a fight.

"If this fails, I don't know where people are going to go," she said.

City of Perth chief executive Gary Stevenson said on Wednesday that the group seemed to be more of a political protest on broader state and federal issues, rather than on the needs of the homeless.

Weeks of protests were held on Heirisson Island in 2012 after a group of Aboriginal activists objected to the WA government's $1.3 billion native title offer to the Nyoongar people.