Confronting moment police officers violently clash with activists protesting against fee hikes at the University of Sydney
Violent scenes erupted between activists and police at the University of Sydney as students protested fee hikes.
Dozens gathered outside the prestigious university on Wednesday afternoon to rally against proposed course fee hikes and higher education cuts.
New South Wales Police said the group began on campus before spilling onto the surrounding streets.
Footage that has been widely circulated online showed officers blocking protesters from walking onto Parramatta Road.
One cop was seen grabbing a female student around the shoulders before violently pushing her to the ground
The University of Sydney protester was slammed onto the pavement by a police officer
One cop was seen grabbing a female student around the shoulders before violently pushing her to the ground.
Several police then stood over the pedestrian crossing to the road, preventing demonstrators from entering.
University of Sydney Professor chair of law and social justice Simon Rice said there was 'simply disproportionate use of force'
'Without any announcement or warning, suddenly and with violence, moved in. I saw them grab a woman and pull a megaphone out of her hand. I said, 'Why are you doing that?' and they didn't answer,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
'As I was asking that, I was grabbed from behind by both arms and frog marched across the road to the other corner. I couldn't see who had a hold of me. I turned around, to ask 'Why are you doing this?' and was told I was resisting arrest.'
Prof Rice said his legs were kicked out from underneath him, causing him to fall to the ground on his hands and knees.
The professor, who has also been director of law reform at the Australian National University, claimed he then tried to get back up but was pushed back down.
He was slapped with a $1000 fine for breaching the Public Health Order for acting in 'common purpose' with the protesters.
It comes after Education Minister Dan Tehan in June announced the government was '' students to pay less for their degree if they studied 'areas of expected employment growth'.
Other protesters poured water on the woman's arm after it was scraped when she was shoved to the ground by an officer
Students undertaking a humanities degree will be slugged more than double (113 per cent) while law and commerce students see a 28 per cent hike in fees.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi described the ugly scenes as 'horrific stuff'.
'NSW Police are clearly emboldened and going after students and university staff in Sydney today,' she wrote.
A spokesperson for NSW Police said 14 fines were issued for coronavirus regulation breaches.
A University of Sydney spokeswoman said it was 'very disturbed by the footage we've seen of today's events,' and encouraged protesters who were 'treated poorly' to lay a complaint.