Student protesters barricaded ANU Vice-Chancellor Ian Young's office at the Chancelry Building while he was inside and threatened not to let him leave until he addressed the crowd in Canberra's Acton yesterday afternoon. While most protesters were peaceful, one young man tried to break down the door to the building.
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Up to 50 students spent two hours lined up outside the building - which houses Professor Young's office - and about 15 police and five vehicles watched nearby. Professor Young was able to leave peacefully after the protest died down.
Hundreds gathered earlier outside the university union to rally against the Abbott government and its proposed deregulation of university fees, chanting "bullshit, come off it, our education's not for profit".
ACT Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury was among those who spoke to the crowd. He read out a statement from his federal party leader, Christine Milne, in support of the students. Federal MP Andrew Leigh was also in attendance.
In the statement, Ms Milne said the Greens would not support any of the Abbott government's changes to universities.
Afterwards, protesters marched towards Professor Young's office, while one student was involved in a skirmish with a security guard who objected to him opening a door. Older students maintained watch on younger ones to keep the protest peaceful.
By 4.30pm, the number of protesters had dwindled significantly, with only about 50 students still carrying on the march. They staked out the front and back entrance to the Chancelry building, shouting "Ian! Ian!" and encouraging him to address those assembled. At one point two uniformed police officers, and another with a video camera entered the crowd and attempted to move students away from the front door. They were forced to retreat.
As of 6pm, most students had left to meet at a student centre and the barricade of the Chancelry building had broken.
But not all students joined the protest spirit.
When asked about deregulation, honours student Gareth Robinson, 21, said “I’m not entirely opposed to it, unlike many people. It’s money that’s being put back into education. But higher interest in HECS loans and higher student contributions, that’s more concerning.”
Other students expressed concern over the phone about increased interest rates on HECS debts. University of Canberra student Emily Kerr-Laslett, now in her fifth year at of an education degree, said "I'm looking at over $55,000 in debt and considering the career I'm going into I'm already worried about paying it back."
Tom Swann, 28, a Masters student at ANU said he thought retrospectively changing interest rates on HECS loans was "dishonest."
Under the new scheme, HECS fees will go up for undergraduates as the government allows universities to charge students what they like for their degrees.
The government also plans for students to pay interest on loans up to 6 per cent - depending on the government bond rate. Mr Young, has previously said the extension of Commonwealth support to TAFEs and private colleges also included in last weeks budget will place downward pressure on fees.
Fairfax Media reported uncapped student fees may actually affect students who start university in 201 unlike what was previously indicated by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
