Drew Pavlou suspended by University of Queensland after pro-Hong Kong protest

Student activist calls his punishment by UQ after he criticised Chinese Communist Party influence ‘a travesty.’

Student activist Drew Pavlou beside barrister Tony Morris QC outside the University of Queensland on Wednesday, May 20. Picture: Michael McKenna

Student activist Drew Pavlou has been suspended from the University of Queensland after leading campus protests in support of the Hong Kong independence movement and public criticism of Chinese influence at the university.

A UQ disciplinary panel delivered the verdict to Mr Pavlou, a final year humanities student, late Friday that he was suspended until 2022 but did not offer any reasons for the action.

The suspension covers the duration of his term as a student elected member of the UQ governing senate, in which he took his seat in January after a vote of the university’s 35,000 undergraduate students.

Mr Pavlou faced 11 allegations of misconduct levelled at him by UQ following his protests and social media posts about its academic ties with Chinese ­government institutions, as well as criticism of the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s record on human rights.

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But in an extraordinary development on Friday night, UQ’s chancellor Peter Varghese issued a statement saying he had concerns about the actions of the disciplinary panel.

“I was today advised about the outcome of the disciplinary action against Mr Pavlou,’’ he said.

“There are aspects of the findings and the severity of the penalty which personally concern me.

“In consultation with the Vice Chancellor (Peter Hoj), 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.’’

A hearing into the allegations was held behind closed doors last Friday, and he and his lawyer, barrister Tony Morris QC walked out saying it was a “Kangaroo Court” after the panel allegedly refused to hand over documents relating to their case against him.

An elected student member of the UQ Senate, the 20-year-old philosophy student organised an on-campus demonstration last year in support of the Hong Kong independence movement and was assaulted by pro-Beijing protesters.

Mr Pavlou, who has won several academic awards at UQ – where he is studying philosophy, history and English literature – said he would appeal the decision.

“Conveniently, the decision allows me to re-enrol in 2022, a semester after my position on the UQ senate would expire,’’ he said.

“It’s an absolute travesty of justice.

“This decision is very clearly a political reprisal against me for my vocal activism and an attempt to invalidate the results of my democratic election to the UQ senate on a platform opposing the Confucius Institute and CCP influence at the university.

“The University of Queensland has taken this action, which is effectively expulsion, to protect their business interests with the Chinese Communist Party.

“They have given us no reason for the decision.

“They have given no evidence that any actual complaints were made against me and refused to comment on whether they have acted at the direction of the Chinese Consulate in Brisbane.

“It’s not over until the appeals process has concluded and I vow to fight this before an independent court of law.’’