Students have been attacked by police inside a building in Sydney’s CBD, where education minister Christopher Pyne was delivering a lecture. About 50 people had gathered to protest the federal government’s plans to deregulate university fees, when riot police began pepper spraying students standing in front of them.
“There was no warning, they just started spraying us in our faces, right in the eyes”, said National Union of Students education officer for NSW, Ridah Hassan, speaking to Red Flag. More than a dozen were dragged from the building suffering the effects of the spray, which is designed to induce pain and temporary blindness.
“It demonstrates the lengths the NSW police will go to defend the Christopher Pyne from the people he rules over”, Hassan told the Age. “It was a peaceful protest at the government’s deregulation agenda and we’re pepper sprayed when making the point”, she continued.
After regrouping outside the building, the demonstration – organised by the NSW branch of the National Union of Students – continued chanting against the government’s plans. “We refuse to be intimidated and will be coming out again to protest against deregulation and Pyne’s reforms again on 25 March in a national day of student protest”, said Hassan.
