Brisbane law student Drew Pavlou now owes $10,000 in court costs and penalties following a failed second appeal against a fine for holding an anti-Chinese government sign. Initially fined $1,000 for referencing the Tiananmen Square Massacre outside the Chinese Consulate in Queen Street Mall, Pavlou’s appeal was unsuccessful, resulting in additional legal fees.
The court upheld the fines, ruling that the Brisbane City Council did not infringe on Pavlou’s freedom of speech. Despite considering an appeal to the Supreme Court, Pavlou expressed his dissatisfaction with the decision. Protests outside the Chinese Consulate remain legal under Australian law, but Pavlou’s case underscores the complexities surrounding protest regulations and free speech.