If Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thinks pro-Palestinian chants by university students across the country mark a red line in the sand, the students aren’t taking any notice.

“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” around 200 protesters at the University of Melbourne chanted to kick off a rally at 5pm on Thursday night, their second night occupying the facility’s Arts West building. The sandstone institution has now become the epicentre of the standoff at home. “Every act of repression is putting petrol on our fire,” organisers told the rally.