Already, it has claimed several victims, most notably a staff for Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

But calls for a thorough police investigation and the need for continuing clarification on how the event evolved means that others could yet find themselves in the firing line.

It has the potential to go right to top – the Prime Minister herself under pressure to reveal if she was aware of the conversations which led to the ugly protest outside the Canberra restaurant.

Backtracking a little, the incident itself has been blown out of proportion and if not for its serious ramifications would make for a great sketch comedy.

Firstly, the comments from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott regarding the Aboriginal tent embassy were misrepresented.

Secondly, the protesters while loud and seemingly angry, at no stage were endangering the Prime Minister.

While it’s difficult to criticise her security detail on the basis that split-second decisions were made in a heated environment, on the available vision they were over-zealous.

Some protesters were acting irresponsibly.

Surrounding the restaurant, and Ms Gillard’s vehicle, and imposing a physical protest was only ever going to provoke one outcome.

Most intrigue lies in how the protesters came to be at the restaurant in such an emotional state in the first place, just who was barking the orders and for what purpose were they were doing so?

It seems one simple telephone call – however silly and misinformed it was – has created a cacophony of calls for all sorts of retribution.

The problem for Ms Gillard is that the incident reinforces negative views on her leadership and her persona.

It provides another weapon for the opposition to destabilise her already tightrope hold on the Labor leadership and even the parliament.

It’s unlikely that Opposition calls for a police inquiry will lead to any charges – it’s hard to prove “incitement” on the basis of one telephone call – but it will ensure that the issue will continue to be one of the most debated in the country.

Either way, it is a bad result for the Prime Minister.