Category: Drew Pavlou

Australian Open Fans Barred From Entry Over ‘Where Is Peng Shuai?’ T-shirts

Tennis Australia’s security has stopped two spectators from entering Melbourne Park for the Australian Open after they refused to remove their shirts featuring a message supporting female Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. On Friday, Australian human rights activist Drew Pavlou uploaded a video on Twitter in which his friend Max Mok and another tennis fan…


Anti-CCP Activist Drew Pavlou Launches a Diverse Team for 2022 Federal Election

Australian student activist Drew Pavlou, known for his harsh criticism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has debuted the parliamentary team of his newly founded party as the candidates set goals for the federal election next year. The Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance Party will have five candidates in total, including those from Hong Kong, Tibetan,…


‘You Won’t Be Able to Book Any Billboards in Australia’: Agency Tells Beijing Critic and Human Rights Advocate

Advertising critical of China or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could be barred from running on any billboards in Australia, according to a recording by Senate candidate and student-activist Drew Pavlou. In a recording posted on Pavlou’s Twitter account, an advertising representative explained why his billboard company was turning down an AU$3,000 (US$2,152) campaign—featuring the…


University Gallery Removes Artwork Critical of Beijing Following Racism Outcry

An Australian gallery has removed three artworks critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) after a group of Chinese students complained the pieces were racist. The Ambush Gallery at the Australian National University (ANU) is hosting the “Don’t Shoot the Messenger” exhibition by artist Luke Cornish which features 54 commentary artworks on “injustice and protest”…


Student Newspaper Takes Down Story on Academics Linked to CCP

Editors of a student-run newspaper in an Australian university have been slammed for their decision to withdraw an article detailing two academics’ ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) due to the current “escalating Sinophobia” in society. University of Sydney’s Honi Soit newspaper released a story on March 31 claiming two professors from its engineering…


New Laws Strengthen Protections Around Freedom of Speech in Australian Universities

A new legislation to further strengthen freedom of speech protections at Australian universities has been passed by parliament. The Higher Education Support Amendment (Freedom of Speech) Bill 2020 (pdf) amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 by providing a clear definition of ‘academic freedom’. It also replaces the use of ‘free intellectual inquiry’ with the…


CCP Has ‘Very Successfully’ Infiltrated Australian Universities: Whistleblower

A Chinese diplomat-turned-whistleblower has warned Australian politicians to pay more attention to China’s infiltration of universities and research institutions, in a submission to a parliamentary inquiry about the national security risks affecting the sector. Chen Yonglin was formerly stationed at the Chinese consulate in Sydney where his job was to spy on overseas Chinese before he…