Melbourne University threatens to call police, expel pro-Palestine protesters

The University of Melbourne has warned pro-Palestine protesters they will call the police and possibly expel student protesters if they do not pack up their encampment.

Pro-Palestine protesters at Melbourne universities continue to defy orders to shut down their camps, with protesters at La Trobe University vowing to rally this afternoon to “demand an era to war in Gaza”.

Meanwhile, Victoria Police was required to keep apart thousands of supporters of both Israelis and Palestinians in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday.

On Monday morning, Melbourne University “direct[ed] all persons occupying the Arts West building to leave the university’s grounds and to remove all personal property from the building”.

“Any person who contravenes this direction will be trespassing on university grounds and may be referred to Victoria Police,” it said.

The university warned student protesters that a failure to comply with this direction may result in an immediate order being issued, such as an inability to attend classes or examinations, exclusion from enrolment or re-enrolment, and restrictions on access to university property.

External photo of the Arts West building at Melbourne University Parkville campus on Saturday, May 18.

Student protesters maybe required to pay for the cost of repairs for damage, face sanctions on enrolments or have their enrolment suspended or terminated, the university said.

It declined to answer whether it had restricted building access to pass-holders only on Monday.

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.

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

Last week, Deakin University became the first Australian university to order its pro-Palestine protesters to dismantle their encampment. Students at Deakin, La Trobe and Melbourne universities have all ignored their universities’ requests to dismantle their sit-ins.

Students will rally at La Trobe’s Bundoora campus “to demand an end to war in Gaza and no repression of student protest”.

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