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| Thousands of students march in protests against budget cuts | Thousands of students march in protests against budget cuts |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Thousands of students took to the streets of Australia’s capital cities on Wednesday to protest against proposed cuts and changes to higher education by the federal government. | Thousands of students took to the streets of Australia’s capital cities on Wednesday to protest against proposed cuts and changes to higher education by the federal government. |
| One man was arrested in Sydney after students staged an impromptu sit-in on a busy city street, while marches also brought traffic to a halt in Melbourne, Newcastle, Hobart, Brisbane and Perth. | One man was arrested in Sydney after students staged an impromptu sit-in on a busy city street, while marches also brought traffic to a halt in Melbourne, Newcastle, Hobart, Brisbane and Perth. |
| Earlier, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, and the education minister, Christopher Pyne, cancelled a visit to Deakin university in Geelong because of protests planned by students. | Earlier, the prime minister, Tony Abbott, and the education minister, Christopher Pyne, cancelled a visit to Deakin university in Geelong because of protests planned by students. |
| It was initially reported that there were safety fears for the pair, but Abbott later told Fairfax radio he did not want to give the students the televised riot they wanted and the visit would use up valuable police resources. | It was initially reported that there were safety fears for the pair, but Abbott later told Fairfax radio he did not want to give the students the televised riot they wanted and the visit would use up valuable police resources. |
| In Sydney, an activist was arrested for picking up a flare. | In Sydney, an activist was arrested for picking up a flare. |
| The man, aged in his 20s, was forcefully bundled to the ground by police and put in handcuffs as thousands of protesters marched from inner-city Ultimo to the town hall. | The man, aged in his 20s, was forcefully bundled to the ground by police and put in handcuffs as thousands of protesters marched from inner-city Ultimo to the town hall. |
| The man had picked up a lit orange flare off the ground and held it aloft before being swarmed by about six police officers. | |
| Hundreds of angry protesters surrounded the group and chanted "let him go, let him go" before mounted police moved in and dispersed the crowd. | Hundreds of angry protesters surrounded the group and chanted "let him go, let him go" before mounted police moved in and dispersed the crowd. |
| The man was led away as protesters, mostly students from five different NSW universities, staged an impromptu sit-in at the junctions of George and Hay streets. | The man was led away as protesters, mostly students from five different NSW universities, staged an impromptu sit-in at the junctions of George and Hay streets. |
| After about five minutes, they continued marching – surrounded by police – along George Street, bringing the CBD's main thoroughfare to a standstill. | After about five minutes, they continued marching – surrounded by police – along George Street, bringing the CBD's main thoroughfare to a standstill. |
| Chloe Rafferty, one of the organisers of the Sydney event, said marchers were “definitely in the thousands”. | Chloe Rafferty, one of the organisers of the Sydney event, said marchers were “definitely in the thousands”. |
| “While we expected to have a big crowd it far exceeded our expectations.” | “While we expected to have a big crowd it far exceeded our expectations.” |
| In Melbourne protesters clashed with police on the steps of the state parliament as hundreds gathered for the protest. They staged a sit-in before police broke up the protest. | In Melbourne protesters clashed with police on the steps of the state parliament as hundreds gathered for the protest. They staged a sit-in before police broke up the protest. |
| In Brisbane, Greens senator Larissa Waters addressed the crowd despite an attempt by what appeared to be a group of young Liberal supporters to disrupt the event. | In Brisbane, Greens senator Larissa Waters addressed the crowd despite an attempt by what appeared to be a group of young Liberal supporters to disrupt the event. |
| "We had some pretty passionate people there today," she said. | "We had some pretty passionate people there today," she said. |
| "As I was speaking we had some people – I think they were Young Libs – came up and expressed the view that only the rich should be able to go to university, but it was pretty clear that the rally didn’t agree with them. | "As I was speaking we had some people – I think they were Young Libs – came up and expressed the view that only the rich should be able to go to university, but it was pretty clear that the rally didn’t agree with them. |
| “To be honest I just kept on speaking. It's just differences of view being expressed and that's the great thing about Australia and rallies." | “To be honest I just kept on speaking. It's just differences of view being expressed and that's the great thing about Australia and rallies." |