The former leader of the University of Wollongong student association has been charged with assault after a clash at a Sydney protest on Saturday.
Former president of the Wollongong Undergraduate Students' Association Chloe Rafferty was arrested by police after allegedly throwing a cup of coffee over a person outside the Conservative Political Action Conference at World Square. It was the only arrest made during the heated rally.
Ms Rafferty had formerly resigned from her UOW position prior to the weekend's incident for unrelated personal reasons.
A Day Street Police District spokesman said the 29-year-old was among a small group of activists who disrupted the event, which was being billed as one of the nation's largest gatherings of conservatives and has attracted a range of controversial speakers.
CPAC Australia was inspired by its US counterpart and was attended by around 500 people with guests including Tony Abbott, former deputy prime minister John Anderson and right-wing commentators such as Janet Albrechtsen.
Some attendees were seen to leave the event to confront protests, which lead to several scuffles, however a heavy police presence mostly kept the two groups apart.
Protesters chants quickly changed from "racists are not welcome here" to "let her go", referring to police who were handcuffing alleged offender Ms Rafferty.
She was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station and charged with common assault.
Ms Rafferty was granted conditional bail by police, and is set to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on August 28.
She declined to comment on the coffee incident when contacted by the Mercury.
