Drew Pavlou is an Australian activist, philosophy student and senate member at The University of Queensland. In July 2019, Pavlou became known for his organisation of pro-democracy demonstrations in support of Hong Kong. He is currently appealing a two-year suspension decision made by the university, over allegations of discriminatory bullying and harassment of university staff and students. Pavlou claims that the allegations are linked to his activism over the university's reliance on Chinese students tuition fees. Pavlou completed his secondary education at Villanova College.
In July 2019, during the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, Pavlou organised a rally at the University of Queensland in support of the protesters in Hong Kong. Pavlou was assaulted when pro-Chinese Communist Party demonstrators interrupted the peaceful protest and snatched a loudspeaker out of his hand, throwing it to the ground. In fact, Pavlou asserts he was assaulted twice during the clash. It was alleged that Pavlou used an offensive word to describe business and finance students, suggesting they had no views beyond those of their wealthy parents. The day after the rally, Xu Jie, the Brisbane-based Consul-General of the People's Republic of China, praised the counter-protest by pro-Chinese government protesters and accused those involved in the rally of "anti-China separatist activities". Pavlou was named as a key organiser of the rally in the Chinese state-owned tabloid, the Global Times, which called him an "anti-China rioter". In October 2019, Pavlou made an application under Queensland's Peace and Good Behaviour Act against Xu Jie asking for a retraction and an apology.
2020 disciplinary proceedings
In April 2020 disciplinary proceedings were brought by the University of Queensland against Pavlou. The proceedings were based on charges of misconduct, including that his behaviour was "inappropriate and abusive" and that he harmed the reputation of the university with his activism. One complainant alleged that Pavlou labelled the university's Confucius Institute a "coronavirus biohazard zone", and posed in a biohazard suit outside the Confucius institute, as a stunt during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The board under which the proceedings will take place has the power to expel Pavlou based on the charges. Pavlou claims that the real motive behind these proceedings was retaliation for his political activism. Global Times, a tabloid run by the Chinese Communist Party'sPeople's Daily, has claimed that students at the university support his expulsion. Contrarily, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, a petition of support for Pavlou has received more than 41,000 signatures. In May 2020, Pavlou walked out of the disciplinary hearing, being held behind closed doors, claiming that he was not receiving a fair hearing. His legal team claimed that they have not been given access to important documents. The incumbent University of Queensland Chancellor, Peter Varghese AO, publicly and almost immediately condemned "aspects of the findings and the severity of the penalty" handed down by the disciplinary panel. Pavlou has indicated that, if expelled, he intends to initiate court proceedings. On 26 May 2020, Pavlou was suspended for two years from the university. He remains a student and senate member pending the outcome of an appeal.
