Student protest turns ugly in Melbourne's CBD
A rowdy student protest has ended in Melbourne with five arrests, a police officer being punched in the face and Treasurer Joe Hockey needing police protection from an angry, surging crowd.
About 100 students took part in the National Union of Students' demonstration, which began with a picket outside Parliament House protesting against federal government cuts to higher education.
But the students were met by uniformed police and officers on horseback and the scene turned ugly as the students marched through the city, stopping at a number of sites, including the State Library.
They chanted "no cuts, no fees, no corporate universities."
The Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey found himself caught dangerously close to to the mayhem when confronted by a group of about 20 protesters on Spring Street, but his security team and police held back the crowd.
"They must have thought I was a Labor politician because it was the Labor party that cut university funding," he later told reporters.
Police say five people were arrested as some protesters began throwing shoes and chalk outside the Liberal Party headquarters.
Protesters also burned items in the street.
It is alleged several officers were attacked by the group.
An officer who was punched in the face is currently receiving treatment in hospital, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
"Police attended to ensure the safety of all involved, and provided an escort to persons entering and exiting the building," the spokeswoman said.
"It’s alleged several police members were assaulted during the incident, including one member who was allegedly punched to the face by a protestor.
"He is currently receiving treatment in hospital for minor facial injuries.
"It’s alleged some protestors also threw shoes and chalk at police and burned items in the street.
"The protestors have left the street however police continue to monitor the situation.
"The investigation into the incident remains ongoing."
one of the rally organisers, Sarah Garnham, says students were peaceful and it was the police who were violent.
She said two people were initially arrested - and one of them was unconscious at the time.
"The first I saw of her she is being dragged out, not resisting at all," Ms Garnham told AAP.
"No one in the protest was violent. There was absolutely no violence whatsoever apart from the Victorian police who moved in on us."
She said protesters tried to attend a police station to make a brutality complaint, but police wouldn't let them go inside.
More members of the protest group were then arrested, she said.
The protest site has been cleared but is still being watched by officers.
No charges have been laid at this time.
Three men and two women are in custody helping police with their enquiries.
