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Student protesters clash with police at University of Sydney Student protesters clash with police at University of Sydney
(35 minutes later)
Protesters clashed with police outside a Sydney University Liberal Club event on Thursday night during a demonstration targeting the education minister, Christopher Pyne.Protesters clashed with police outside a Sydney University Liberal Club event on Thursday night during a demonstration targeting the education minister, Christopher Pyne.
Pyne attended the annual John Howard Debating Cup at the university’s St John’s college as adjudicator, as did the attorney-general, George Brandis, MP Alex Hawke and human rights commissioner Tim Wilson.Pyne attended the annual John Howard Debating Cup at the university’s St John’s college as adjudicator, as did the attorney-general, George Brandis, MP Alex Hawke and human rights commissioner Tim Wilson.
A small crowd of about 30 protesters, including organisers of Wednesday’s national day of action by students, tried to enter the building before Pyne’s arrival but were prevented by police.A small crowd of about 30 protesters, including organisers of Wednesday’s national day of action by students, tried to enter the building before Pyne’s arrival but were prevented by police.
The group, which included members of the Socialist Alternative, who previously staged a protest from the audience of ABC’s Q&A program, chanted “no cuts, no fees, no corporate universities”, among other slogans, overturned a table and tried to rush past police.The group, which included members of the Socialist Alternative, who previously staged a protest from the audience of ABC’s Q&A program, chanted “no cuts, no fees, no corporate universities”, among other slogans, overturned a table and tried to rush past police.
Amateur video filmed at the disturbance shows some heated clashes with officers, with some protesters seen being shoved and palmed by police attempting to keep crowds away from debate attendees.Amateur video filmed at the disturbance shows some heated clashes with officers, with some protesters seen being shoved and palmed by police attempting to keep crowds away from debate attendees.
There were allegations of police punching a student, and throwing her to the ground. NSW police declined to comment on the allegations.There were allegations of police punching a student, and throwing her to the ground. NSW police declined to comment on the allegations.
The protesters were targeting Pyne over his proposed changes to higher education, including the push to deregulate university fees, which many university leaders say will lead to higher fees.The protesters were targeting Pyne over his proposed changes to higher education, including the push to deregulate university fees, which many university leaders say will lead to higher fees.
“We are against the deregulation of higher education. We are against the Liberal party's budget and every time the Liberals rear their ugly faces on our campuses, we're going to make our opposition heard,” protester Ridah Hassan told ABC. “We are against the deregulation of higher education. We are against the Liberal party's budget and every time the Liberals rear their ugly faces on our campuses, we're going to make our opposition heard,” protester Ridah Hassan told ABC.
University of Sydney Union vice-president Tom Raue said, “The main message of the protest was that these attacks are not welcome by students.”University of Sydney Union vice-president Tom Raue said, “The main message of the protest was that these attacks are not welcome by students.”
“Liberal politicians are not welcome on the campus that they are destroying,” Raue told student publication Honi Soit.“Liberal politicians are not welcome on the campus that they are destroying,” Raue told student publication Honi Soit.
A spokesman for Pyne told Guardian Australia the government will not be deterred by protesters “from implementing reforms that will expand higher education to 80,000 more students, enabling more people to take part and spreading the opportunity and benefits that come from higher education.”A spokesman for Pyne told Guardian Australia the government will not be deterred by protesters “from implementing reforms that will expand higher education to 80,000 more students, enabling more people to take part and spreading the opportunity and benefits that come from higher education.”
Earlier on Friday morning, Pyne dismissed student concerns, describing the group as “misguided”.Earlier on Friday morning, Pyne dismissed student concerns, describing the group as “misguided”.
"University students will not be paying double the fees they are paying now," he told Fairfax Radio Network. "They are very misguided and spreading a great deal of misinformation.""University students will not be paying double the fees they are paying now," he told Fairfax Radio Network. "They are very misguided and spreading a great deal of misinformation."
He said students were wrong in thinking the proposed reforms would make higher education accessible only to the wealthy.He said students were wrong in thinking the proposed reforms would make higher education accessible only to the wealthy.
"Not when you can borrow every single dollar upfront from the Australian taxpayer and not pay it back until you're earning over $50,000 a year, and at the lowest interest rate that you'll ever get for a loan in your entire lifetime,” he said."Not when you can borrow every single dollar upfront from the Australian taxpayer and not pay it back until you're earning over $50,000 a year, and at the lowest interest rate that you'll ever get for a loan in your entire lifetime,” he said.
NSW police told Guardian Australia no arrests had been made at the protest. In a short statement, a spokesman said, “Officers attached to Newtown local area command attended the Sydney University campus where a small student protest took place.”NSW police told Guardian Australia no arrests had been made at the protest. In a short statement, a spokesman said, “Officers attached to Newtown local area command attended the Sydney University campus where a small student protest took place.”
The president of the Sydney University Liberal Club (SULC) and organiser of the John Howard Cup, Alex Dore, said in a statement, “This riot was organised by the usual suspects … who have nothing better to do than to disrupt civil debate with their … tactics.” The president of the Sydney University Liberal Club (SULC) and organiser of the John Howard Cup, Alex Dore, said in a statement, “This riot was organised by the usual suspects … who have nothing better to do than to disrupt civil debate with their … tactics.”