‘Unacceptable’ pro-Palestine protesters ordered off Deakin campus

Deakin University has ordered pro-Palestine protesters off its Burwood campus, citing the “safety, security and amenity of all campus users”.

But camp representative Jasmine Duff said the protesters – including 20 people staying overnight and more during the day – had received legal advice that the camp was lawful and they would not comply with the order.

“We do believe we have the right to stay here,” she said.

The university has told organisers to immediately dismantle and remove the encampment due to “unacceptable behaviour of protesters” that created an “impediment to the normal use and function of the campus”.

“The university takes its obligations in relation to ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, students and visitors to the campus very seriously,” said Kerrie Parker, deputy vice chancellor of university services.

“The right to freedom of speech does not extend to the establishment of unauthorised camps which pose hygiene and safety risks and restrict the access, availability and use of Deakin premises and facilities for the benefit of the Deakin community of users.”

Duff, a history student, said Deakin protesters had called a rally at the encampment on Wednesday evening to demonstrate that they were not going anywhere.

She said protesters would stand up to police if they were called to dismantle the protest.

“If Deakin University has learned anything from America, it should be obvious that calling in police only increases the number of people protesting,” she said.

Premier Jacinta Allan said she had not been advised about the latest situation at Deakin.

There is also a pro-Palestine encampment at the University of Melbourne.Credit: Jason South

“More broadly, I am calling for calm across university campuses across the state,” Allan said.

“Universities should never, never be a place of violence. And they most certainly should never be a place for antisemitic behaviour. That is not acceptable.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, meanwhile, faced a barrage of criticism from the Coalition and Greens over Labor’s position on the war in Gaza.

As Labor tries to take a nuanced line on Israel’s bloody military campaign, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton opened his question time attack on Albanese by accusing him of breaking faith with Jewish Australians by backing greater rights for Palestine at the United Nations last week.

Police were deployed to Monash University’s Clayton campus on Monday night when a protest was planned.Credit: Nine News

Albanese said he took full responsibility for the UN vote, which Dutton described as a “captain’s call” that put Australia in a more friendly stance towards Palestine than the US and UK.

Albanese argued the watered-down resolution that did not grant full membership rights to Palestine was consistent with a two-state solution, which is also Coalition policy.

“People who are vehemently opposed to that resolution include Hamas, include people who have a view that there should just be a single state, ‘from the river to the sea’, as the chant goes,” Albanese said.

Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi slammed Labor for its criticism of that chant and its use by student demonstrators. Her comments highlight the political dilemma as the Coalition and Greens pitch directly to voters on either side of the Gaza debate.

Mounted police at Monash University on Monday night.Credit: Nine News

“You should be haunted by the slaughter of newborns, toddlers and children in Gaza,” Faruqi said of Labor while addressing the Senate.

People protesting over Israel’s war in Gaza have been camping at Australian universities, including Monash and Melbourne, for many weeks, and have called on the universities to cut ties with weapons manufacturers.

The protests have prompted counter-protests by supporters of Israel, including at Monash on Monday, and triggered a national debate about free speech and discrimination on campus.

Duff said the Deakin protesters were all students from the university and were not antisemitic or calling for the abolition of Israel.

“Absolutely not. Lots of the student leaders of Students for Palestine are themselves Jewish, and we see ourselves as standing in a long line of Jewish anti-war and pro-Palestine activists,” she said.

Asked about the Monash protest, Albanese said on Tuesday that Australians had a right to protest, but the protest had to be respectful.

“For the Jewish community, suffering from increases ... [in] the rise in antisemitism, they’re going through an incredibly difficult period. And for people who have relatives in Gaza, I get that this is a distressing time as well. It’s important that there be respectful debate in this country.”

In October, Hamas’ attack on southern Israel took hostages and killed 1200 Israelis. Since then, Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gazan officials.

Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, praised Deakin University’s order and described the protests as a “nuisance, a disfigurement of campus grounds and … hubs for promoting a violent and racist ideology”.

But more than 500 Australian academics have signed a letter saying they are “proud of the students who have established peaceful encampments”.

“We are facing one of the greatest crimes of the 21st century happening right in front of us,” the academics’ letter says.

“Unsurprisingly, students around the world, including students at Australian universities, have initiated peaceful protests that have various demands relating to ending Western government support for Israel’s attack, ensuring institutional divestment from complicit companies, and calling for an end to Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.”

With Natassia Chrysanthos, Rachel Eddie

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