Police have fought off protesters at a Melbourne building while the prime minister, Tony Abbott, was inside.

The university student protesters, angry at university cuts, yelled “shame” at police officers and clashed as the officers tried to get inside the Melbourne University building.

A demonstrator earlier told protesters that police had “assaulted” protesters, leading to chants of shame.

Abbott was officially opening the Peter Doherty institute for infection and immunity.

Up to 200 protesters were shouting slogans and calling for education for all and no cuts to education.

About 40 officers formed a wall guarding the entrance to the building on Friday morning. Up to 20 police officers are guarding another entrance.

One student protester was injured as activists chased a car leaving the university building.

He said he was tackled to the ground by police or security personnel as he waved a flag on the road when a car headed towards him.

“The car stopped just in front of me, right at my shoulder,” said the protester, named only as Nick.

He said he had hurt his lower back. “That’s nothing in comparison to the sort of effects these federal budget cuts are going to have on people,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman would not say how many police attended but said no arrests were made.

An organiser of the protest, Sarah Garnham, education officer with the National Union of Students, said protesters had prevented Abbott from entering the centre for around an hour.

“We’ve been protesting for quite some time against the Liberal government’s budget because of the effects it will have on students, with the deregulation of course fees set to cause university costs rise by tens of thousands of dollars,” she said.



“But we also find his attacks on Medicare and on public health concerning too, and it’s quite repugnant that he would come on this campus to open a medical centre in the context of the government’s attacks on health.”



Police stand in front of students protesting against Tony Abbott’s visit to open the Peter Doherty institute for infection and immunity at Melbourne University. Photograph: Sarah Garnham/Supplied

Protest coordinator Jade Eckhaus said police helped Abbott enter the medical centre through a side door.



She said it was “outrageous” centre staff had invited him to help launch it.

“That they would invite someone who has attacked health onto this campus is outrageous,” Eckhaus said. “Protesters have every right to be here voicing our concerns and standing up for our rights.”