A blind university student has told of her terror at being pepper sprayed at a demonstration outside a lecture given by Education Minister Christopher Pyne in Sydney's CBD on Friday.

In what caps off a dreadful fortnight for the Abbott government, a seemingly routine speech by Mr Pyne at Sydney's Masonic Centre in Goulburn Street turned into a violent outing as students were sprayed in the face and forcibly removed.

Anna Amelia, 23, who is studying international relations and development studies at the University of NSW, said that being pepper-sprayed was more terrifying than being in the Christchurch earthquake in 2010.

"I just remember a bit of push and shove and the next minute it felt like the entire world was on fire, felt like somebody had set fire to my lungs, my eyes were burning, I didn't know what was happening, I didn't know which way was up, down, left or right. It was just pain," Ms Amelia, who is legally blind, said

Ms Amelia, who uses a walking stick, said that her tunnel vision was completed obstructed by the pepper spray.

"I was really scared and disoriented, and almost panicked. I've been through earthquakes and this was far worse than a 7.5 earthquake.

"I really just want to get home," she said immediately after being examined by ambulance staff.

Mr Pyne was speaking to the Australian Council of Educational Leaders about the government's response to a report by the Education Ministerial Advisory Group on teacher education.

The protest overshadowed what should have been a good day for Mr Pyne.

The reforms to teacher quality standards are fairly widely accepted, but his foundering university reforms continue to attract negative attention.

It appears the trouble began when protesters saw Mr Pyne walking inside the building on his way to give his lecture.

The protest, which was mostly about university deregulation but was also a forum to air a wide range of grievances, had been peaceful until that point.

Then, the protesters suddenly rushed to the door.

About 10 police officers were on hand to repel the students, but not before an officer had sprayed some of them.

"I think Christopher Pyne was walking in and we tried to tell him exactly what we thought of his deregulation plans, that they are going to harm everyday Australians who want to pursue an education. They are going to make it unattainable for women, indigenous people and people with disabilities," Ms Amelia said

University of NSW politics and history student Patrick Wright agreed.

"Essentially they used the Mace [sic] straight on people's faces, which is why people got it directly in the eyes and in the throat. It was all over people's faces, they couldn't breathe for a bit and they were just crying and it was a direct hit basically," Mr Wright said.

"It's just astounding; there is no way the students could have posed any threat to anyone, and yet the spray was used. It's such a surprise, well not really surprising, but it's such a low-level incident to use spray on."

Mr Wright also said that his phone was taken by police, claiming that a plain-clothes officer told him he would be arrested if he did not surrender the device.

"He took my phone and made me stand near him until Pyne was allowed to go in and then he returned my phone. I was just like astounded by the level of force used to protect Christopher Pyne," Mr Wright said.

Mr Wright said he was on one side of the building where Mr Pyne entered, while most of the protesters were on the other.

"He [the officer] explained that he didn't want me to text or call my friends."

"It was clear that I wasn't doing anything wrong but he stepped up and said he would arrest me anyway because I was imminently going to cause a public order offence or a breach of the peace.

"I have no idea whether that's correct or if he was abusing his power because I was on my own," Mr Wright said.

Mr Pyne's office declined to comment.

The NSW Police said no one had been arrested or charged over the protest, although an investigation has been launched.

The police said in a statement they recognise the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly when done in compliance with the law.

But they said they would not tolerate breaches of the peace or criminal offences being committed by those who attend unauthorised demonstrations.

They said they would take appropriate action to ensure the safety of those who attend demonstrations and "place themselves and/or others in danger".