Protesters told they 'will be arrested' if they don't leave encampment

The encampment is on a primary evacuation site, the ANU said, and poses an unacceptable safety risk to students and staff.

Police said non-compliance with tomorrow's deadline may result in further police action.

Protesters voted at 11:40am on Monday to remain within the encampment. It is understood the ANU is seeking to move the camp to an alternate location.

Prior to this, protest leaders met with police and were told that if they didn't move, they would be arrested. The student leaders have since informed police they will stay within the encampment.

A student leader told the protesters that they needed to remain seated when and if the police attempted to move them. That, the protest leader said, would minimise the amount of force the police could use.

The ANU identified safety issues around the current site as it was an evacuation point for a nearby student residence.

The ANU identified an alternative evacuation point, however this failed during a fire alarm at Fenner Hall last week.

"No one has been told not to protest," an ANU spokesman said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

"Today's direction is about the safety of the campus in the event of an emergency. The university has proposed alternative sites for protest.

"The safety of our community is our highest priority."

But ACT division secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union Dr Lachlan Clohesy, who was at the protest, said he believed the ANU was using concerns about the evacuation point as a pretext to remove the camp.

"It's in a context where we've seen other complaints about the condition of the lawn, the smell of the encampment," he said.

"The decision by the university to call police on to campus to break up a legitimate, peaceful student protest is nothing short of shameful."

The ANU spokesman said the encampment participants had asked for more time to vacate the Kambri lawn and would have until 12pm Tuesday, May 28 to pack up.

"The university expects encampment participants to follow directions from police. Police directions are enforceable under law," the spokesman said.

"Failure to comply with a reasonable direction from ANU, or police, could lead to potential disciplinary action under the university's code of conduct."

ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said in a statement on Monday evening his party strongly supported the encampment and they were concerned by the actions of ANU leadership to move the protesters on.

"Today the students on campus sat and chanted peacefully, while the ANU brought in police and security in an attempt to intimidate them into leaving," Mr Rattenbury said.

"It is shameful that the ANU leadership is trying to move the students on rather than genuinely addressing the the demands for the ANU to divest its ties to the genocide.

"The ANU should be supporting students in their peaceful protest and their right to use their voices in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Mr Rattenbury said his party continued to call for a permanent ceasefire and lasting peace for Palestine.

The Australian Democracy Network campaigner Anastasia Radievska wrote to vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell expressing concern over police involvement to move-on the encampment.

"University administrations have a responsibility to respond to campus protests in ways that uphold the right to public assembly and restrict police involvement to addressing criminal offences," Ms Radievska said.

"The current presence of police at the ANU encampment and any use of police to disperse protest to disperse the encampment if it does not disband is not in accordance with these human rights standards."

The morning started cold and foggy. Students heard news they were ordered to leave the site around 8.45am.

The Canberra Times understands 20 to 30 security guards were on site near the encampment at 9am. Police arrived on scene shortly after.

Less than two hours later, dozens of security guards, police and newly-arrived protesters were at fierce odds on campus.

Protesters made a sit-down circle, barricading the camp with tables. Shortly after, a second circle began to form. About 100 students formed these circles, with 50 odd onlookers.

An ANU student at the encampment, who goes by the name Max, said they've been blindsided by the university's decision.

"It feels like we've been ambushed ... they've surrounded the whole camp," they said.

"I feel as though they're using the fact that it's a public holiday and early in the morning ... against us."

More police arrived on the scene around 10:50am but they were still not in numbers enough to deal with a large-scale protest. Shortly after, police appeared to be moving away from the scene.

"Shame, shame Albanese" was heard being chanted by protesters, along with other common pro-Palestine chants.

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"To be clear, as has been the case since the encampment commenced, we have not directed any of our students to stop protesting," the ANU statement said.

"They may continue to do so as long as it is respectful, peaceful and abides by our codes of conduct."

A protester, Luke, said the university had not properly listened to - or met - any demands made by the camp.

On May 24, ANU said it would reconsider its links to arms companies and companies connected to territory occupied by Israeli settlers.

The university denied it was caving into the demands of protesters and instead "listening to students".

But Luke said "[the university] haven't actually committed to divesting. They continue to invest a million dollars in arms companies that are profiting from the genocide in Gaza."

Luke said those at the encampment "would be more than willing" to discuss ways to manage any safety breaches occurring.

"We've had different representatives from unions health and safety and a nurses health and safety teams both having a look at the encampment," he said.

The protest - which is one of several on university campuses across the country - has been going for several weeks.

On May 15, students were given days to move their tents before facing disciplinary action. Seven students were called to a meeting with university leadership at the time, but did not attend.

ANU deputy-vice chancellor academic Grady Venville said last week there was an emergency evacuation due to fire at Fenner Hall where 400 students lived.

"Through that analysis of that evacuation we realised that our secondary evacuation points failed," Professor Venville said.

"This is a terrible, intolerable risk for the university and hence we have taken immediate action."

She said the CCTV footage showed that students were confused about the alternative evacuation points.

The university management decided it needed to restore the primary evacuation point, which is the site of the encampment.

Professor Venville said the protesters had been given a lawful instruction to vacate the Kambri lawns and police may arrest people who do not comply.

"If they do not comply we will hand over to police," Professor Venville said.

Professor Venville said the university had received multiple complaints from other staff and students who felt unsafe because of the encampment.

Safe spaces had been provided to Jewish students.

Professor Venville said the student protesters were invited three times to speak with university executives to discuss safety issues at the encampment.

Health and safety inspections were initially rejected but eventually an inspection of the camp was carried out, she said.

"Safety is our primary concern here. We welcome the students to continue to protest. Our campus is a lively place. We have great respect for their purposes for continuing to protest and we would welcome discussions around how we can enable them to protest in respectful and lawful ways."

This is an evolving story. More to come.