Drew Pavlou may run as Senate candidate with Bob Katter

Student activist Drew Pavlou has his sights firmly set on Pauline Hanson’s Senate seat – and he’s in talks with some unlikely bedfellows.

Maverick university student Drew Pavlou has thrown his hat in the ring to run for the Senate for the party of maverick Queensland federal politician Bob Katter.

If Mr Pavlou gets the nod from Katter’s Australian Party, it would likely mean a Senate spot showdown at the next federal election between Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, the LNP’s Amanda Stoker and the Greens.

“I think it would be great if Pauline spent more time with her grandkids,” said Mr Pavlou, 22.

Mr Pavlou hit international headlines in July 2019 after holding a protest at the University of Queensland against a range of issues involving the Chinese Communist Party.

It led to a scuffle, in which Mr Pavlou was hit, and a standoff between Pavlou’s band of protesters and Chinese Government loyalists.

Pavlou and his family received death threats after the protest but the philosophy, history and English literature student who strongly objects to China’s persecution of its Uighur ethnic minority continued to protest the presence of the China-funded Confucius Institute at UQ.

Drew Pavlou (right) with Bob Katter at a Uighurs rally

Last year, UQ suspended Pavlou for two years over a range of other matters, reduced to six months on appeal after the intervention of Brisbane QC, Tony Morris. UQ maintains the action against Mr Pavlou was not related to his original protest or his comments on China.

The unlikely pairing between Mr Katter and Mr Pavlou began when Mr Katter, incensed by the fact the Chinese loyalists were not prosecuted for the assault in the protest and that Mr Pavlou was facing suspension, called for an inquiry into foreign influence in Australian universities.

The inquiry has been held and is due to report next month.

“Bob was the only politician who really stood by me and when I looked at his views, I saw there was more to Bob than just the stereotype,” says Pavlou, who considers himself on the Left of politics and has been a member of the ALP and the Greens.

“When I fought against the University of Queensland and when the Chinese Government singled me out for abuse and greenlighted all those death threats… I saw that very powerful people and institutions in this country have very much been bought up and become complicit in a very authoritarian system of control and domination.

“Bob supports trade unions, he is against the free market fundamentalists, he’s against privatisation, he’s pro-worker, he’s basically got socially democratic views on the economy and he’s against the complicity of the elites in dealing with the Chinese Government.”

One Nation firebrand Pauline Hanson is in their sights.

Mr Pavlou, who is back at UQ and due to finish his arts degree this year, said he believed he had a strong chance of winning the Senate spot if endorsed by KAP, and would be very active in the campaign.

“I’ve got so much energy, I’ve got so much passion, I’m going to be out there every day campaigning,” he said.

“I feel it in my bones that I really want this.

“My message is going to be about human rights, democracy, making a fairer economy, and I’m not at all interested in any culture war stuff or any xenophobia.

“If I am going against Pauline, I’m definitely not going to be trucking in any of Pauline’s type of bad politics.”

Mr Katter’s son Robbie Katter, KAP’s Queensland leader, said in a statement: “Drew’s shown that he’s a real fighter. I think he’s one of us.”

He said candidates would be voted on at a pending KAP management committee meeting.

Mr Katter said voters wanted leaders who would fight for Australian sovereignty and values.

“Our ports, mines, farm land and water have been sold off to foreign interests such as businesses connected to the Chinese regime,” he said.

“The defence of our nation and pervasive foreign influence will be major issues at the upcoming federal election and a major platform for the KAP.”

Originally published as Drew Pavlou may run as Senate candidate with Bob Katter