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 following a ceremony to mark Australia's national day Thursday.

She appeared distressed as she was pulled away from the protesters but was unharmed. She later remarked that she was made of "pretty tough stuff" and commended police for their actions.

Some 200 supporters of indigenous rights had surrounded a Canberra restaurant and banged its windows while Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott were inside officiating at an award ceremony.

Around 50 police escorted the political leaders from a side door to a car. Gillard stumbled, losing a shoe. Her personal security guard wrapped his arms around her and supported her to the waiting car, shielding her from the angry crowd.

Julia Gillard clung to her bodyguard as she was dragged off her feet away from a crowd of angry protesters in Canberra today.

In extraordinary scenes, riot police were called in and formed a shield around the prime minister as she made a hasty escape outside a citizenship ceremony. 
Dramatic footage showed the flustered PM losing her shoe as her security escort ran a gauntlet through about 200 protesters from The Lobby restaurant near Old Parliament House — where Gillard had been handing out medals to emergency services representatives — to her car waiting outside.

The group had trapped Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott inside the restaurant until dozens of extra police, including the riot squad, were called to the scene shortly after 2.30pm (AEDT). 
Protesters chased their car down the road, banging on its roof and bonnet.

The embassy was celebrating a 40-year milestone with a three-day "Corroboree for Sovereignty" with thousands of indigenous Australians travelling to Canberra for the occasion.

Tensions boiled over following comments Mr Abbott made in Sydney earlier in the day.

Mr Abbott said he understood why the tent embassy was set up "all those years ago".

"I think a lot has changed for the better since then," he told reporters.

"I think the indigenous people of Australia can be very proud of the respect in which they are held by every Australian.

"I think a lot has changed since then, and I think it probably is time to move on from that."

For many Aboriginal people Australia Day is considered Invasion Day.

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon embassy founder Michael Anderson addressed a rally at the site.

"To hell with the government and the courts in this country. You haven't got a high hope to take us on," he said.

"We will force these issues.

"Too many of our families have suffered for some bastard to get in the road."

There were false reports Ms Gillard had been tackled by protesters as she was escorted to her commonwealth car.

A spokesman for the prime minister said Ms Gillard slipped as she was leaving the building.

Activists from the tent embassy accused Mr Abbott of inciting racial riots with his earlier comments.

Michael Anderson said the comments were disrespectful.

"He said the Aboriginal embassy had to go, we heard it on a radio broadcast," he told AAP.

"We thought no way, so we circled around the building."

He said the protesters wanted the leaders to clarify their position and whether Mr Abbott was serious about removing the embassy.

"You've got 1000 people here peacefully protesting and to make a statement about tearing down the embassy - it's just madness on the part of Tony Abbott," Mr Anderson said.

"What he said amounts to inciting racial riots."