Christopher Pyne book launch: Student demonstrators smash window, wrestle with police

Student protesters clashed with police in Melbourne during the launch of Federal Education Minister Christopher Pyne's new book on Friday. The protestors smashed a glass door panel while trying to get inside the building where Pyne was launching his book.

It took more than 30 officers to hold the demonstrators back outside a Docklands building. There were around 80 protestors who chanted, "No cuts, no fees, no corporate universities," while wrestling with police. The officers have arrested a woman who is being interrogated.

The National Union of Students organised the protest as Pyne was scheduled to launch his new book “A Letter to My Children,” ABC reported. According to the education minister, his book was “family-friendly.”

The protest was held to oppose the deregulation of university fees. Three police officers got minor injuries.

Pyne welcomed those who “made it through.” “We're about two-thirds the number that RSVP-ed, so sadly I think about a third of the people who wanted to come couldn't get through,” Herald Sun quoted the federal education minister, "It does seem a bit juvenile for the students to be trying to stop and disrupt the launch of a family-friendly book."

The demonstrators blockaded the doors of the Docklands building and stopped people from attending the book launch. The event was delayed from around half an hour until officers managed to regain control of the situation.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott could not attend the event. He had to fly to Perth on Friday for the funeral of Liberal MP Don Randall. It was Victorian Liberal Party President Michael Kroger who launched Pyne’s new book.

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