8.55am BST

In summary, thousands of students took to the streets today to protest proposed cuts and changes to higher education by the federal government.

Prime minister Tony Abbott and education minister Christopher Pyne cancelled a trip out to Deakin uni today because of the planned protests. It was initially reported there were safety fears for the pair, but Abbott later told Fairfax radio he didn't want to give the students the televised riot they wanted and the visit would use up valuable police resources.

Huge numbers hit the streets in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Hobart, Brisbane and Perth - which is still going.

Arrests were made in both Melbourne and Sydney where some students staged a sit-in. Students who were against the protest - reported but unconfirmed to be members of the Young Liberals - took to the stage in Brisbane and chanted over the top of Greens senator Larissa Waters, who was addressing the crowd.