Mardi Gras organisers took steps to separate an immigration detention float from the Rainbow Labor float after a protest directed at Bill Shorten and deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek.
A video has emerged showing Mardi Gras parade producer Anthony Russell warning members of the No Pride in Detention float not to harass Mr Shorten, who was marching with the Rainbow Labor float.
"If I bring Bill Shorten out here now and one of you people say something to him, you are not in the f***ing parade. Do you understand that?” Mr Russell is heard saying to float organiser Ed McMahon.
“So have a chat to your people, you talk to your people right now, OK. You’ve got one more chance. If you don’t, if you can’t act like a normal human being – all in the parade together – then you’re out.”
When Mr McMahon tries to reply Mr Russell interjects saying: "I don’t care, don’t harass people."
Earlier on Saturday members of the No Pride in Detention float had shouted chants in support of refugees at Mr Shorten and Ms Plibersek as they left a press conference and held up signs.
Once the parade began the No Pride in Detention float, which was due to follow directly after Rainbow Labor, was held back until several other floats had passed.
No Pride in Detention float organiser, Amy Thomas, told Guardian Australia the float was moved back in the parade instead of being removed altogether.
"The marshals were made to hold us back while a couple of floats which came from further along Oxford Street went ahead of us … Obviously they wanted to avoid the embarrassment of the hypocrisy of Bill Shorten and the Labor party’s position on offshore processing," she said.
"It is a situation where you have LGBTQI refugees on Nauru and Manus Island in PNG and in both countries homosexuality is illegal and subject to years of imprisonment.
Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten and deputy leader Tanya Plibersek speak to media prior to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney. Source: AAP
"Both parties] know they’re placing people in that situation. You can’t march on the streets again homophobia and not be questioned on what I say is a selective view on homophobia."
In a statement issued on Monday, Mardi Gras chief executive Michael Bauer said the police had found the No Pride in Detention float members had directed “an unacceptable level of harassment and offensive comments” at Rainbow Labor members, including the two politicians.
"The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras strongly believe the No Pride in Detention Float has a very important message to send, and without wanting the police to intervene and remove the float from the parade, a last minute decision to reshuffle the run order was made," Mr Bauer said.
