Pro-Palestine protesters defy warnings to leave Melbourne University building

Pro-Palestine protesters occupying a University of Melbourne building on Wednesday night have vowed to dig in and risk arrest, defying warning from campus authorities that police would be called in if they did not leave.

A group of about 100 students shifted their protest inside the Arts West building at the university’s Parkville campus on Wednesday afternoon, staging a sit-in as tensions over the war in Gaza take hold at the city’s universities.

A group of students occupy the Arts West building at Melbourne University’s Parkville campus on Wednesday.Credit: Joe Armao

At Deakin University’s Burwood campus on Wednesday night, there was a separate peaceful protest of about 100 people, with campus security and police monitoring. Thousands of demonstrators also took to CBD streets, gathering at RMIT University’s student encampment before marching to Melbourne Central.

Despite a warning from Melbourne University acting provost Pip Nicholson that students had to leave the building by 2.30pm on Wednesday, more than 100 remained inside the Arts West building into the night.

The students staging the sit-in said they were willing to risk arrest.

“This is indefinite. This is about disclosing and divesting and nothing will change until the demands are met,” said Gemma O’Toole, an arts student involved in the occupation.

People rally at Deakin University’s Burwood campus on Wednesday evening.Credit: Eddie Jim

A small number of police officers attended just after 4pm, but there were no signs of violence and they did not intervene.

Some protesters inside the Arts West building were wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarfs; others could be seen in goggles. They used megaphones to chant slogans, banners were unfurled and tents were set up inside the building.

The University of Melbourne on Wednesday night described the sit-in as “unacceptable” and said it would be investigated.

Tensions on university campuses around the country have been mounting in recent weeks as tent cities of students protesting against Israel’s military action in Gaza grow. On some occasions, the encampments have attracted counterprotesters supportive of Israel’s action in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7.

Deakin University on Monday became the first Victorian university to order those in the pro-Palestinian encampment to leave its campus, citing safety and security amid allegations of antisemitism against some within the protest movement.

The Melbourne University protest is aimed at the university’s long-standing research agreement with aerospace and defence manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

O’Toole said students would continue their occupation until the university severed its research agreement with companies that supplied defence technology to Israel.

She said the protest was timed to coincide with Nakba Day, a date that commemorates the mass displacement of Palestinians during the Arab-Israeli war 76 years ago.

O’Toole, who has been camping on the university’s south lawn since Anzac Day, said the building occupation was a planned escalation by some protesters who had split from the wider Uni Melb for Palestine encampment.

“The demands have been the same for seven months,” she said. “Of course, people are ready to escalate. We have been outside freezing. This university clearly holds their students in contempt.”

O’Toole said that about 1.30pm, shortly after the occupation began, acting provost Nicholson came into the Arts West building to tell students that if they did not move on within the hour, she would involve the police.

“We have garnered a lot of support from the community. There are a lot of people who care deeply. So right now, I’m looking around at hundreds of people I have never seen before,” O’Toole said.

The University of Melbourne said it welcomed debate and peaceful protest on campus – provided it did not extend to violence, threat or intimidation.

It said many involved in the sit in were “independent of the encampment”.

“Today’s behaviour, including the refusal to leave the building, was unacceptable and will be investigated,” it said in a statement on Wednesday night.

The university said it had cancelled ​Wednesday classes in the Arts West​ building.

Nicholson, a deputy vice-chancellor who has become the university’s troubleshooter on a series of complex issues, is considered a leading candidate to replace Duncan Maskell as the university’s most senior administrator.

The day before students moved into the Arts West building, Nicholson sent a lengthy message to all staff and students reiterating the university’s commitment to free speech but warning against disruptive protests.

“We firmly believe that respectful and non-disruptive protests on our campuses must allow all members of our community to participate fully and freely in university life, without fear, threat or intimidation,” she wrote.

“We are mindful of the effect of the ongoing encampment on our South Lawn, one of the university’s major communal open spaces in Parkville, on all members of our university community. At all times, the safety of our staff and students is paramount and this includes those encamped.

A clash developed at a pro-Palestinian encampment at Monash University earlier this month when pro-Israel supporters attempted to storm a stage where speeches were being conducted.Credit: Justin McManus

“As the grounds of the university are public open spaces, we also are deeply concerned about the disruptive intent of some external visitors to our Parkville campus.

“Where there are instances of unacceptable behaviour, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which may involve referral to the police.”

Deakin University issued a ban on its encampment on Monday, citing the safety, security and amenity of all campus users.

On Wednesday night, there was a small peaceful protest of about 100 people at Deakin’s Burwood campus, with security and some police monitoring. The students vowed to continue fighting the university’s order to leave.

Jasmine Duff, an encampment organiser, said protesters had camped out at the campus on Tuesday night, ignoring the university’s order that they immediately dismantle and remove the encampment.

“Nothing’s happened,” Duff said. “It’s been very peaceful. Security hasn’t been acting differently to usual and there aren’t more police.”

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters took to city streets on Wednesday afternoon, Nine News reported, gathering at RMIT’s student encampment before marching to Melbourne Central.

There was a strong police presence at the shopping centre and some traders closed their doors while the rally took place, but the gathering was largely peaceful. The activists also staged a brief sit-in at a city intersection before dispersing.

People gather at Deakin University’s Burwood campus on Wednesday evening.Credit: Eddie Jim

The long-running pro-Palestine protests and university encampments have triggered a national debate about free speech and discrimination on campuses, and prompted counterprotests by supporters of Israel.

More than 35,000 people have died in Gaza since the war began in October, according to Hamas officials.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler called on other universities to order protesters to leave, but lawyer Greg Barns said that “heavy-handed enforcement should be the very last resort” when it came to freedom of speech and the right to protest.

Leibler said the “decision by the Deakin encampment to defy university instructions is a line in the sand, dividing rule-of-law society and anarchic protesters”.

Student protesters at Melbourne University on Wednesday afternoon.Credit: Joe Armao

“We are confident that the state and federal governments will strongly encourage law-enforcement authorities to ensure that universities are fully supported if protesters don’t comply with university rules.”

Monash University is now doing student identification checks on protesters at its Clayton campus following Monday’s clash between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel supporters.

RMIT said it was “implementing pre-emptive and proactive measures while members of the RMIT community exercise their right to protest”.

Duff said the Deakin protesters had received advice that their camp was legal.

Barns is the spokesman for the Australian Lawyers Alliance and was behind a letter signed by hundreds of lawyers in November urging a ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank.

He said Deakin’s order for the disbandment of the students’ camp “appears to run contrary to its policy that freedom of speech by students is a ‘paramount value’ and its exercise not ‘unnecessarily burdened by restrictions or other burdens’ other than those imposed by law”.

“So, the decision to undermine that paramount value is very serious and could only be done if there was a proven threat to health, safety and wellbeing which the university claims is the reason.”

Barns said if Deakin had simply acted on complaints and not investigated them, or sought to negotiate with the protesters, then this was arguably unlawful.

“One might add that such heavy-handed tactics by university administrations using their legal powers are counterproductive. When it comes to freedom of speech and the right to protest, censoring it through heavy-handed enforcement should be the very last resort.”

Announcing the ban, Deakin’s deputy vice chancellor of university services, Kerrie Parker, said protesters had engaged in unacceptable behaviour that created an “impediment to the normal use and function of the campus”.

“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,” she said on Monday.

Police arrested two people on Wednesday morning after offices of the ABC in Southbank, Seven Network in Docklands and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll in Niddrie were vandalised. Protesters sprayed the ABC with fake blood and wrote: “The ABC enables genocide.”

In response, Carroll said hate had no place in Victoria and his staff were entitled to stay safe at work.

Premier Jacinta Allan said: “There is so much loss of life, there is so much grief, as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

“Let’s not bring that grief to the streets of Melbourne. Let’s not add to the grief of so many in our community here.”

The federal government will launch a probe into racism at universities after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said antisemitism is the worst he had seen.

The Labor government broke with some of its closest security partners by voting in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution that declared “the State of Palestine is qualified for membership in the United Nations” under its charter rules.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.