A clash between protesters and Australian police that forced bodyguards to rush prime minister Julia Gillard out of an event appears to have been set off by information released by one of Ms Gillard's own aides.

Authorities and indigenous-rights protesters blamed each other today for a heated clash in which bodyguards had to rush prime minister Julia Gillard out of an event marking the anniversary of British colonisation.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard had to be bundled out of a Canberra restaurant by security service agents after it was surrounded by 200 furious Aboriginal rights protesters.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard stumbled and was caught by a security guard as riot police helped her force a path through a crowd of rowdy protesters during a ceremony to mark Australia's national day.