Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi gave a small but vocal group of student protesters the slip in Brisbane on Saturday, opting for back-door entry to the Broncos Leagues Club for a speaking engagement.

The ultra-conservative South Australian MP was in town to address the party faithful and spruik his book, The Conservative Revolution, at the invitation of soon-to-retire Queensland Nationals Senator Ron Boswell.

Senator Cory Bernardi speaks at the Broncos Leagues Club. Credit:Harrison Saragossi

Senator Boswell introduced his controversial colleague as a "conviction politician", in one of his last official functions before his retirement at the end of June.

Simultaneously, outside the club, students and academics protested the deregulation of university fees announced in the federal budget.