Protesters unhappy with treatment of asylum seekers and changes to higher education pepper-sprayed in clashes

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Protesters have clashed with police outside a Liberal party fundraiser in Melbourne where the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and the former prime minister John Howard are speaking.

About 150 people gathered outside a Docklands function venue about 6pm on Friday to protest against the federal government’s changes to higher education and the treatment of asylum seekers.

Paul Dowsley (@pauldowsley7) Paramedics help people injured by capsicum spray in anti-govt protest at Docklands. The PM snuck in. #7newsmelb pic.twitter.com/fEt3UdNCLl

Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) Hard to see but huge crack in the glass is new after a protestor half ran into it, half pushed into it by police. pic.twitter.com/hax1iR7ClY

Some of the building’s windows were broken as demonstrators clashed with police, with officers using pepper spray on about 10 people, including an ABC cameraman.



The Herald Sun reports that one child, about 10 or 11, was seen running away after being pepper sprayed while screaming: “It hurts, it hurts.”

Police cleared demonstrators from the entrance using police horses after the crowd attempted to prevent guests from entering the fundraiser, according to some reports.

Former Howard government minister Peter Reith was accosted by protesters on his way into the fundraiser, according to reports.

About 10 protesters were reportedly injured in the violent scuffles, some seen with bloodied faces.