Brisbane uni student Drew Pavlou loses appeal against suspension at The University of Queensland

A Brisbane student who says he was relentless pursued for criticising his uni’s close ties with Beijing has been dealt a fresh blow.

One of Australia’s most prestigious unis has upheld the suspension of a student who claims he was targeted for exposing the institution’s close ties with the Chinese Communist Party.

Drew Pavlou said he fell out of favour with The University of Queensland after staging a protest 12 months ago against Beijing’s anti-democracy activities in Hong Kong.

The small demonstration, which also raised the plight of the persecuted Uighur minority in China and criticised UQ’s links with the CCP, was gatecrashed by pro-China figures and turned violent.

Mr Pavlou tried repeatedly to meet with UQ’s leadership to discuss financial and educational ties with Beijing-backed groups, but his requests fell on deaf ears.

The 21-year-old ran for the university Senate and won a position as an undergraduate representative, and claims it sparked a disciplinary review.

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Drew Pavlou has lost an appeal against his suspension from The University of Queensland, which he claims was punishment for criticising the uni’s close ties with Beijing. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Mr Pavlou was originally hit with a two-year ‘suspension’, the loss of his position on the Senate and restrictions on his studies that would make it almost impossible for him to ever graduate.

A long-running appeal came to an end today, with his original punishment replaced with a suspension for the remainder of the academic year and 25 hours of community service on campus.

His Senate position has also been stripped from him.

“UQ has burnt $1 million in taxpayer funds,” Mr Pavlou told news.com.au today.

“We will seek an immediate injunction in the Supreme Court and fight it all the way to the High Court if need be. Total exoneration or nothing.”

Mr Pavlou was due to graduate at the end of semester two this year.

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The University of Queensland is one of Australia’s most prestigious higher education institutions.

The saga has been both exhausting for Mr Pavlou and embarrassing for the uni, whose conduct during its dogged pursuit of the student has been criticised by legal giants, security experts and politicians.

Its original dossier of misconduct included what Mr Pavlou and his lawyers described as “trumped up” charges, bullying claims against students who said they never complained or experienced abuse, and trivial allegations including briefly borrowing a pen from a bookshop instead of buying one.

The university denies its pursuit of Mr Pavlou was ever related to his protests or criticism of its relationship with China.

UQ hosts a Confucius Institute at its St Lucia campus – a controversial organisation with direct links to the CCP, which has been the subject of warnings from national security experts.

Peter Hoj, the university’s Vice-Chancellor – a position akin to chief executive officer – was an unpaid senior consultant to the Confucius Institute Headquarters, known as Hanban, for four years, and a member of its powerful council.

Mr Hoj ended his involvement in late 2018.

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Drew Pavlou is an anti-CCP activist who campaigns for democracy in Hong Kong and the end of persecution of Uighurs in China. Picture: AAP

Drew Pavlou has filed a $3.5 million lawsuit against UQ and its leaders. Picture: AAP

Earlier this month, material emerged from a UQ economics class that was described by one expert as CCP “propaganda”, amid revelations that the Confucius Institute paid for the course.

Among topics canvassed in the ECON3820 course are the “terrorist” activities of the Uighur minority, whose persecution by Beijing has been described as ethnic cleansing.

Another discussion was devoted to whether pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong amount to terrorism.

Professor Clive Hamilton, a China expert at Charles Sturt University and author of the book Silent Invasion, said the involvement of the Confucius Institute in the course was “a scandal”.

The contents of the course read more like CCP propaganda, he said.

Drew was due to graduate at the end of this year. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

UQ also made China’s Consul-General to Australia in Brisbane, Dr Xu Jie, an honorary professor.

Following Mr Pavlou’s protest last July, Dr Xu issued an extraordinary statement describing him as a “separatist” – a crime worse than murder in China – and praising the patriotism of the pro-Beijing counter-protesters.

Mr Pavlou claimed he has been the subject of death threats from pro-Beijing supporters.

In a statement, UQ Chancellor Peter Varghese said while it wasn’t the university’s “usual practice” to comment on the details of individual matters, an exception was being made due to the “level of public interest” and Mr Pavlou’s own public comments on the matter.

“I confirm that the committee found serious misconduct on two of the allegations, but not the others. The Senate Disciplinary Appeals Committee (SDAC) reduced the period of suspension from two years to one semester, until December 2020,” the statement reads.

“Neither of the findings of serious misconduct concerned Mr Pavlou’s personal or political views about China or Hong Kong. The university has consistently said that no student should be penalised for the lawful expression of personal views. This should finally put to rest the false allegations that this process has been an attack on freedom of expression.

“Contrary to Mr Pavlou’s comments, there were no findings that any of the allegations were fabricated. The committee conducted a complete rehearing of the matter and was required to make decisions based only on the evidence before it. Mr Pavlou had legal representation at the hearing.”

He said the decision by the SDAC “concludes the university’s disciplinary processes”.