University of Queensland executives referred to CCC over corruption claims
The University of Queensland’s two highest-ranking executives have been referred for investigation over claims of corruption and failure to disclose foreign influence by lawyers representing embattled student activist Drew Pavlou.
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THE two highest-ranking executives at Queensland‘s most prestigious university have been referred for investigation over claims of corruption and failure to disclose foreign influence by lawyers representing embattled student activist Drew Pavlou.
University of Queensland Chancellor Peter Varghese AO and Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Høj AC have been accused by Mr Pavlou of alleged corrupt conduct over their interest in protecting “mainland Chinese international student revenue”, in a complaint to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.
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A separate complaint has also been made to the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Section of the Attorney-General’s Department about the pair.
A CCC spokesman said while the complaints were being assessed, it was not yet an investigation and all allegations should be treated as unsubstantiated until an outcome was reached.
“It is not appropriate for the CCC to comment further while the matter remains under assessment,” the spokesman said.
A UQ spokeswoman said the “continued allegations being levelled at the University are unfounded and we reject the assertions being made”.
She said the university was always happy to brief the Crime and Corruption Commission, or any other agency, on any aspect of its business, including international engagements.
Mr Pavlou is awaiting the outcome of his appeal against the University’s decision to suspend him for two years over 11 allegations of misconduct, which is expected to be announced on Friday.
Mr Pavlou led a protest in support of Hong Kong’s democracy movement and criticising UQ’s ties to the Chinese Government on July 24, 2019, during which he was allegedly assaulted by pro-Beijing supporters.
The following day, The Chinese Consul-General Dr Xu Jie, who is also a university-appointed adjunct professor at the university, issued a public statement about the protest labelling the event as “anti-China separatist activities”.
The Courier-Mail has learnt Mr Pavlou, via pro-bono legal representative Mark Tarrant of Mark Tarrant Lawyers, has since made a written complaint on May 28 to the CCC about Professor Høj AC and Mr Varghese AO, alleging corrupt conduct over interests to protect “mainland Chinese international student revenue”.
The CCC complaint claims that Mr Varghese AO and Professor Høj AC decided to not dismiss Dr Xu Jie as adjunct professor after he made public statements about Pavlou’s pro-Hong Kong protest, in the interest of protecting the “lucrative” international Chinese student market.
The complaint also alleges that they want to expel “troublesome” Pavlou over “trite and dishonest” charges.
“The Chancellor has used UQ resources to spy on and prosecute Mr Pavlou via a concocted disciplinary hearing as he, together with the Vice-Chancellor and Dr Xu Jie wish to rid themselves of Mr Pavlou,” the complaint against Mr Varghese AO said.
“That is the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and Dr Xu Jie have colluded in corrupt conduct.
“We believe the disciplinary hearing against Mr Pavlou was timed to derail his PGBO [Peace and Good Behaviour Order] Complaint Hearing against Dr Xu Jie, which was originally listed for 24 April 2020, but has been postponed to 24 July 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions on Court operations.”
The complaint also alleges that Dr Xu Jie was “unsuitable and unqualified” for the position of UQ Adjunct Professor, School of Languages and Cultures.
“We also submit that the Chancellor engaged in corrupt conduct when he made the decision to appoint Dr Xu Jie as an Adjunct Professor at UQ,” the complaint said.
Mr Pavlou‘s lawyer has also made a complaint to the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Section of the Attorney-General’s Department, alleging Mr Varghese AO and Professor Høj AC had not disclosed the extent of their co-operation and communication with Dr Xu Jie.
“This has resulted in the rule of law on UQ campus being undermined including the right to peacefully protest against human rights abuses in the PRC, democracy for Hong Kong and independence for Tibet, Xinjiang and Taiwan,” the complaint said.
They allege UQ’s lawyers, Clayton Utz acted for Xu Jie and paid his legal fees and UQ’s Confucius Institute in applying to set aside subpoenas sought by Mr Pavlou under the peace and good behaviour order he is seeking against Dr Xu Jie.
In a previous statement a University of Queensland spokesperson said any suggestions the University is paying any legal costs for Dr Xu Jie were completely false, and that the subpoenas were addressed to two UQ employees and Dr Jie in his capacity as an adjunct professor - delivered to UQ’s School of Languages and Cultures.
“Neither the University nor Clayton Utz were acting on behalf of, or took any instructions from, Xu Jie, either as the Consul-General or in his capacity as an Adjunct Professor, in relation to the subpoenas issued to the University.”
The University of Queensland has previously said it strongly rejects assertions the student disciplinary process was a free-speech issue, and rejected “unsubstantiated accusations about any political motivations”.
The Attorney-General’s Department confirmed it received the complaint, and that it assesses all allegations received, but said it was not appropriate to make further comment.