Police stop students entering campus
BY CHRIS LATHAM
WOLLONGONG — Fifteen police and security guards blocked 20 students' access to the opening of the University of Wollongong's new Shoalhaven campus on June 2.
The students had been attempting to protest against the continuing decline in per capita funding for higher education under the federal Coalition government. Federal education minister David Kemp had been scheduled to speak at the opening but failed to make an appearance, his place taken by local Liberal MP Joanna Gash.
In an effort to gain entrance to the university, the students blocked all traffic into the campus for some 15 minutes, but stopped when threatened with arrest. The students then occupied Gash's electoral office, demanding that she set up a meeting between student representatives and Kemp, which she agreed to do.