Drew Pavlou talks about taking on UQ and Chinese government

A University of Queensland student activist is taking on the Chinese Consulate-General in Brisbane in court and has more than 20,000 signatures on a petition demanding he not be expelled.

LAST year the biggest worry for University of Queensland student Drew Pavlou was his results, now he’s looking down the barrel of a court case, has received countless death threats and is facing university expulsion.

The fourth-year philosophy student made news last year during a protest supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

It was during the university’s market day, their busiest campus day of the year, when there was a scuffle that raised international interest.

The university student accused Dr Xu Jie of inciting death threats and assaults by allegedly publicly labelling him an anti-China separatist. AAP Image/Claudia Baxter

“I had fifteen people with me and it became international stuff because some guys tried to assault us. Like, it's been crazy how the activism has blown up,” Pavlou told The Courier-Mail.

After the scuffle, the Consulate-General of China in Brisbane, Dr Xu Jie condemned Mr Pavlou’s activism.

The 20-year-old alleges the Consulate-General publicly accused him of separatist activities, a crime punishable by death in China – which sparked a series of death threats and physical attacks.

He hopes to receive a retraction of the statement and an apology from the consulate when they appear in court this Friday.

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10,000 sign petition to stop UQ ‘silencing’ student Drew Pavlou

“Changing from just an ordinary student to someone who is a big activist, well I guess I never really thought this would happen, I never really had this in mind,” Pavlou said.

“My life's been completely transformed, I've lost a lot of friends, there’s been a lot of tension in my family because of the threats which has been the hardest part.”

Even though Pavlou loves a fight and is known to “kick the hornets’ nest”, he says activism does have its challenges.

“So many people were like, ‘you have to stop Drew’, and my family said ‘you have to stop, please’.

“Friends are saying ‘it's time to pack it in, it's over, like you've done so much already, just give it a break.’”

“I think I'm sort of adjusting to it, little by little and it's something I really love, I want to devote my life to it.”

The outspoken figure also received a 186-page document from UQ outlining reasons for his expulsion, with a meeting set up for April 27.

Drew Pavlou leading a university protest last year. Photo: Liam Kidston

This brought a petition with more than 20,000 signatures pushing for him to stay.

“Over the different platforms I’d say I’ve gotten over 500 messages over the last week, it’s a bit overwhelming but most of them are supportive so it’s good,” Pavlou said.

“I'm so shocked but I'm shocked in a great way, like, it's really like amazing, I'm so happy.”

The document includes an accusation regarding a pen he allegedly stole from the gift shop and some social media posts.

“I reckon that already made up their mind they're going to expel me because they don't send in a 186-page document without having already made up their minds.”

He hopes the petition and publicity may sway the University’s mind but if it doesn’t he will appeal.

“I've taken on the Chinese government, I've taken on the university, I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but I just love it, I love the battle.”

“I really want to devote my life to this sort of activism. I'm so passionate about it, I’d give my entire life for it,” he said.