Tony Abbott and Education Minister Christopher Pyne were due to visit a Geelong research facility at Deakin University on Wednesday but cancelled on advice from the Australian Federal Police.
Mr Pyne told the ABC that police had expressed concern over the safety of the politicians and bystanders amid widespread protests planned for today.
“So the prime minister made the decision... that it would be wiser to not go and to create that tumult,” he said.
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A Facebook invitation for the event targeted Mr Pyne, stating that he “went to university for next to nothing” and demanding the axing of future fee hikes and deregulation.
“Elite universities will become the preserve of the rich and poorer students will be priced out of the education they deserve whilst still being burdened by more debt than ever before,” it read.
“Students need to stand up to these savage attacks!”
Mr Abbott’s cancellation also follows a series of student protests held since the budget was delivered, some of which required police intervention.
Students targeted Julie Bishop during an appearance at the University of Technology Sydney on Friday, while her fellow cabinet ministers faced more protesters interstate.
Police were also in attendance when protests spilled over to the University of Sydney campus, where students gathered with placards and banners.
On Monday, former federal Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella was escorted from a lecture at Melbourne University after she was disrupted by student protesters.
Eleanor Morley from the Student Representatives’ Council at University of Sydney said protests had been planned for major cities across Australia on Wednesday.
“We think Liberal politicians have no place in our university campuses,” she said.
- with AAP.
