Top barrister fights protester’s uni suspension

A student activist fighting his suspension at the University of Queensland after criticising the institution’s ties with the Chinese government has launched an 11th-hour appeal, with his high-profile barrister calling the process “manifestly excessive”.

University of Queensland student and activist Drew Pavlou. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

A STUDENT activist fighting his suspension at his university after criticising his institution’s ties with the Chinese government has launched an 11th-hour appeal, with his lawyer calling the process “unfair”.

High-profile barrister and free speech advocate Tony Morris QC last night lodged an appeal on behalf of suspended student activist Drew Pavlou, with the Academic Registrar at The University of Queensland.

Mr Morris appealed the decision to suspend Pavlou on the basis it was procedurally incorrect and unfair, and that the student had not committed the misconduct found by the disciplinary board.

He claimed Friday’s decision to suspend Pavlou until 2022 was “disproportionate” and “manifestly excessive”.

After the suspension, UQ Chancellor Peter Varghese said aspects of the findings and the severity of the penalty were of personal concern to him.

“In consultation with the Vice Chancellor, who has played no role in this disciplinary process, I have decided to convene an out-of-session meeting of UQ’s Senate next week to discuss the matter,” he said in a statement.

Mr Morris questioned the statement that Vice-Chancellor Peter Høj had nothing to do with the disciplinary process, citing the University’s policy that mandated members of the Disciplinary Board are appointed by the Vice-Chancellor.

Mr Morris wrote in the appeal that the Chancellor was to be “congratulated for the self-restraint and diplomacy … showed in waiting for a full hour before throwing the members of the Disciplinary Board under the (metaphorical) bus” and “attempting – albeit rather unconvincingly – to distance himself and Professor Høj from the disciplinary action against Mr Pavlou.”

A UQ spokeswoman said Prof Høj was not involved in the recent disciplinary process.

“The Vice Chancellor annually appoints a pool of disciplinary panel members from staff and student nominations. Student nominations are proposed by the UQ Student Union. The Vice Chancellor does not decide which panel members hear particular matters.”

Pavlou, who last year led a protest supporting Hong Kong’s democracy movement, and was allegedly assaulted by pro-Beijing supporters, said he believed the university would be “exposed” and the “public will find out just how many hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds they have burnt on this insane political vendetta”.