Advertisement

G20: Police put on show of force on Brisbane River

A flotilla of police vessels powered down the Brisbane River on Thursday in a show of force ahead of the G20 summit.

Authorities have now locked down parts of the river to recreational boats as security intensifies in the lead up to the three-day event.

The world's most powerful leaders have begun arriving in Brisbane for the summit, with South African President Jacob Zuma the first to touch down on Wednesday.

The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde flew into Brisbane on Thursday morning.

She will be followed by the Crowned Prince of Saudi Arabia and the President of Brazil and Prime Minister of Turkey on Thursday night.



A total of twenty-five world leaders will be in Brisbane for the summit, including US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Member countries representing 19 of the world's major and emerging economies will attend, including Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, France and Russia.

More than 6000 police in town and kilometers of steel fencing enclosing a restricted zone around the Brisbane Convention Centre and a number of inner-city hotels.

Security is tight in Brisbane ahead of the G20 summit. Photo: ABC
Security is tight in Brisbane ahead of the G20 summit. Photo: ABC

Military aircraft, including F/A18 Super Hornets have been carrying out training flights over the city, and will enforce a strict no-fly zone during the summit.

Police have been given increased powers under Government legislation passed in October last year, allowing them to strip-search anyone deemed suspicious near the venues.

Certain items such as children’s toys and eggs have already been banned from the area.

The annual summit is a forum for economic discussion and cooperation, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott flagging three main topics for discussion:

1. strengthening the private sector to promote growth;
2. making the world economy more resilient to future shocks;
3. shoring up global institutions.