(Transcript from World News Radio)
Protesters targeting Prime Minister Tony Abbott have clashed with police at Melbourne University.
It was the latest in a series of protests against plans announced in the May budget to change university funding.
Van Nguyen was there.
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A couple of hundred student protesters demonstrated outside the University of Melbourne where Prime Minister Tony Abbott officially opened the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
The angry protesters chanted slogans against the proposed changes to education funding - proposals yet to get parliamentary approval.
RMIT University student, Ben Coggins, was one protester.
"The biggest cuts to education that we've seen in decades are going through. Education, which is the one commodity we have in society to ensure everyone has the possibility of an opportunity in life and that the rich don't dominate every institution in our society. But the Liberal government are pushing through massive cuts, deregulation which is going to see us following the footsteps of America where education is denied to the vast majority of people for financial reasons. And education becomes just a finishing school for the rich and privileged which further cements inequality and injustice in our society and we're not going to stand by while that happens."
At one point, the rally became violent.
Protest organiser Jade Eckhaus was one of the demonstrators forcibly pushed back by police.
She accuses the police of over-reacting.
"I got thrown onto a cop car. One of my friends when we were around the corner, Sarah, she had a cop grab her around the neck by her scarf by both ends to try and strangle her. And I think it's pretty indicative of the way the police act when people come out and protest."
Despite the clash, Melbourne University student Anneke Demanuele was pleased with the turn-out.
She says it's important for the budget to remain a hot topic in the public realm.
"This is a budget that is explicitly for the ruling class in society to hold onto their profits, to hold onto their power and it's going to attack the majority of us. And so, we need to sustain, to fight back in order to tell the government. We need to be out on the streets saying we do not accept this and that's why it's wonderful that it's for four months, people have been discussing it, arguing about it, and coming out on the streets to show their distastes and disgusts."
Activist, Ezekiel Ox, says he's expecting protests against the Abbott government to continue.
"I'm a father, I'm a brother, I'm a son, I'm an uncle and I have a real problem. Apart from that, I stand in solidarity with all Australians that deserve a fair go. And indigenous Australians in particularly. So, I mean in times like this, there's nothing else to do but fight back against a government like this because they hate you. They hate your right to choose a better life or to pursue something better. So the message today to Abbott was clear. He's not welcome in Melbourne. He's not welcome on our campuses and I think he's going to find next election, that he's not welcome at all at the polling booth."
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