Deakin University has become the first education institution in Australia to request students dismantle their pro-Palestine encampment, but protestors have vowed they will “not be moved”.
Pro-Palestine camps have spread to universities in every state in Australia after beginning at the University of Sydney almost three weeks ago. Last week, Victoria police wrote to university vice-chancellors requesting greater powers to shut down the encampments, adding that if they were allowed to keep growing there was a “strong likelihood of violence occurring between protest and counter-protest groups”.
In a letter sent to organisers on Monday evening, the deputy vice-chancellor of Deakin, Kerrie Parker, called for the “immediate dismantling and removal of the current encampment” to ensure the “safety, security and amenity of all campus users”.
She noted organisers had initially flagged the camp would run from 7 May to 10 May, a date which had now lapsed, adding the universities took its obligations to staff, students and visitors “very seriously”.
“The university’s expectation was that the encampment would conclude … at the end of last Friday, relieving the university of its obligation to ensure the safety of the protestors and other campus users,” she wrote.
“However, a small group have remained in continuous occupation at the Morgan’s Walk site at the Burwood campus over the weekend.”
Last week, Deakin established barricades closing off Morgan’s Walk where the camp had been established, citing the “utterly unacceptable” behaviour of protestors, including hate speech. Parker said the ongoing closure was creating an “impediment” to the use of campus.
In a response published to social media on Tuesday morning, the Deakin Gaza Solidarity Encampment called the move “Orwellian” and reiterated its demands that the university immediately “divest its ties with the state of Israel and all weapons manufacturers”, and for the vice-chancellor to meet with protestors.
It announced a rally to defend the encampment at 6.30pm on Wednesday to “defend and support the encampment”.
“While the university insists that our camp has carried on long enough, our demands have been met with not a single response,” they wrote.
“This shows us that we have not been here for long enough ... We will not be moved. We have the right to freedom of speech and protest.”
The shadow education minister, Sarah Henderson, praised Deakin’s move.
“This is leadership,” she wrote on X.
“Labor and all universities must show the same commitment to the right of every person to access and enjoy a safe and secure learning and working environment, free of impediment, intimidation and harassment.”
Speaking on Melbourne’s 3AW on Tuesday morning, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said the continuation of encampments was a matter for police.
“We in this country have a right to protest,” he said. “That’s really important … but it’s important as well that it be respectful.
“And I say this to people, how they protest reflects on whether that protest is winning support or losing support.”
The minister for education, Jason Clare, said he had made it clear to universities that there was nothing more important than the safety of students and staff on campus.
“Universities have student codes of conduct, and they should be enforcing those codes of conduct,” he said.
Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said it was a “welcome and overdue move”.
“These encampments are a nuisance, a disfigurement of campus grounds,” he said.
Other universities have so far been so far resistant to dismantling protests.
The chief executive of the Group of Eight, Vicki Thomson, which represents six universities where students have set up encampments, told Guardian Australia on Friday universities had “no plans” to shut down the camps unless they broke the law or disrupted the core activities of universities.
“While there have been some isolated instances on some of our campuses, in the main the protests have, to date, been reasonably peaceful,” she said.
Deakin is not a member of the Group of Eight.
Meanwhile, an open letter from Australian academics and professional university staff in support of student protests had garnered more than 600 signatures on Tuesday afternoon, less than 48 hours after it was made public.
The letter, drafted by Monash Staff 4 Palestine, upholds the importance of free speech on campuses and rejects media and political characterisations of the protests as antisemitic.
On Tuesday, American rapper Macklemore visited protestors at the University of Sydney, filming a social media video to declare his support for the global movement.
“Just wanted to shout out all the students at Sydney University encampment,” he said. “Come down. Support. Free Palestine.”
Deakin University did not respond to request for comment as to whether the police would be called in to intervene. In a statement from Parker, posted to the university’s website, she reiterated Deakin would not tolerate unacceptable language or behaviour that breached its code of conduct.
A spokesperson for Victoria police said police were aware management had requested for the encampments to be dismantled and were not involved in the decision.
“Victoria police have met with the vice-chancellors of most universities operating in Victoria to ensure we are aware of the issues they are facing regarding encampments and protests,” they said.
“While each university maintains responsibility for their campuses, Victoria police will assist them by responding to potential breaches of the peace or criminal offences.”
