Sydney, Feb 13 (IANS): A group of protesting students in an Australian university was pepper-sprayed by police Friday after they tried to disrupt a speech by the education minister here.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne was addressing educators in the Sydney Masonic Centre when the students, protesting against university policy changes, stormed its lobby, ABC reported.

Police pepper-sprayed a number of the protesters who managed to get into the foyer and were then escorted out.

However, the protesters continued to chant "no cuts, no fees, no corporate universities. This is not a police state, we have the right to demonstrate".

"We were pushed by police and I was pepper-sprayed right in the face, my face is on fire," a student said.

Supporters poured milk over the faces of some of those injured by the pepper spray.

"Why can't Chris Pyne face up to the fact that students are against his higher education reforms?" the student asked.