University of Queensland Students For Palestine camp safe for now despite Deakin University’s eviction notice

The University of Queensland is not budging on its preference to negotiate with camped pro-Palestine protesters, despite another Australian university issuing an eviction notice.

The University of Queensland is standing firm on its preference to continue to negotiate with camped pro-Palestine protesters, despite Deakin University breaking from the pack and issuing an eviction notice to the activist camp on its Melbourne campus.

The UQ Students For Palestine camp in the Great Court is in its third week and while there were no further protests over the weekend, more action is planned for later this week.

Deakin becomes the first Australian university to order the dismantling of a pro-Palestine encampment at its Burwood organisers.

Former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who has Jewish parents and is openly of Jewish faith, called for all Australian universities to follow Deakin’s example on Tuesday.

“At last the penny has dropped,” Mr Frydenberg, who recently made a documentary about the rising tide of anti-Semitism in Australia, said.

“Our universities must be safe spaces for learning and education, not indoctrination.

“All our universities should follow Deakin’s lead, bringing an end to these encampments and taking a strong and principled stand against the anti-Semitism, violence and hate we have seen across Australia in recent months.”

Pro-Palestine and pro-Israel student protests still occupy the Great Court at the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland. Picture: Liam Kidston

A UQ spokeswoman said the university’s position remained unchanged, and declined to directly respond to Deakin’s decision and Mr Frydenberg’s comments.

“As a matter of priority, we are working with camp organisers to de-escalate the current situation and agree a plan for how we support freedom of speech in a way that ensures the safety and wellbeing of our community and does not impact on our operations,” she said.

“We have increased security on campus in response to the camps and there was an active police and security presence on site for [last Thursday’s] protest rally,” she said.

“UQ is continuing to investigate the unacceptable behaviour of one individual at the rally and has reported the matter to police, who are also helping to verify whether those involved are part of our UQ community.”

More action is planned for this week. Picture: Liam Kidston

Deakin University wrote to camp organisers on Monday night telling them to “attend to the immediate dismantling and removal of the current encampment at Morgan’s Walk”.

The letter said the university only gave permission for the camp to be set up until last Friday, and after that, the university expected it would wrap up.

“The university takes its obligations in relation to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, students and visitors to the campus very seriously,” the letter said.

“This is compromised by the continued presence of the encampment.”

The university said “unacceptable” behaviour of protesters was a key issue.

But the activists say they won’t go quietly, publicising a ‘Rally to Defend’ the camp event.

Last week, UQ’s St Lucia campus saw a window smashed with a bollard during a pro-Palestine rally, although Students for Palestine – who organised the protest – said the person who smashed the window was not a member of their group.

No one was injured, but police continue to investigate and are appealing for witnesses.

Footage also emerged of pro-Palestinian students at UQ saying they would be terrorists if involved in the Israel-Gaza conflict, before later saying they would “probably” join Hamas.

Students for Palestine later said the pair in the video are no longer members of the group.