A while back I wondered if Australians had finally had enough of their government oppressing them.
The answer seems to be “evidently not,” as they now want to jail a mail for holding a blank sign outside the Chinese Consulate.
As a matter of principle I have decided I will peacefully surrender to the Brisbane court on August 6 and accept prison time for contempt of court.
I will go to jail in Australia for the crime of holding a blank sign outside the Chinese Consulate, if this is what the government… https://t.co/K0CHT5AxWQ
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) July 27, 2025
“BREAKING: I now face PRISON TIME in Australia for holding a blank sign outside the Chinese Consulate. The LNP conservative controlled Brisbane City Council is now threatening me with arrest and potential jail time for contempt of court unless I pay a $23,000 fine.”
“LNP” is Liberal–National Coalition, which is considered “center-right” and is opposed by Australia’s current ruling Labour Party.
Pavlou has a long history of protesting Communist China, and even started (then folded) a political party to that end. Seems like a bit of a gadfly, really.
But that doesn’t explain why police are threatening to jail a man for holding up a blank sign. Or why a ostensibly conservative party seems to care about the precious feel-feels of the Chinese Communist Party.
Some adjustment seems in order.