Commonwealth Games 2018: Queen's Baton relay delayed by protesters

8:17 pm on 4 April 2018

Protesters have caused the 2018 Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton relay to be redirected this afternoon.

The Aboriginal flag.

The Aboriginal flag. Photo: AAP

Around 50 Indigenous demonstrators caused the interruption at The Spit on the Gold Coast as the baton made its way to the final destination at the event's Opening Ceremony.

Protester uncle Wayne Coco Wharton was amongst them.

"We are calling on the Commonwealth heads of every nation that has come here to demand Malcolm Turnbull to initiate a truth commission," he said.

"That the truth commission starts and they are appointed with grassroots blackfellas from around this country to head the truth commission."

Mr Wharton also called for an overhaul of the curriculum in schools to be overhauled.

"We want a national curriculum that can be taught in every school," he said

"We are calling on every other nation that has come here as part of the Commonwealth that they have a responsibility to leave something positive."

The Queen's Baton relay began about 12:15pm with baton bearer Emma McTaggart continuing along Seaworld Drive, instead of taking the planned route around Doug Jennings Park.

Aboriginal people from around Australia met in Uluru last May to discuss recognition of Indigenous Australians in the constitution.

West Australian Aboriginal commentator Wayne Bergmann said "truth telling" about Indigenous suffering and displacement through colonisation needed to be a key part of treaty negotiations.

In October, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rejected a referendum to establish an Indigenous advisory body, which was endorsed by the hundreds of influential Indigenous Australians who attended the three-day summit.

- ABC