People set to appear at Friday’s  parliamentary joint committee on intel and security hearing might want to read the transcript of the one last Thursday, if only to decide the thickness of hides to wear

The committee is inquiring into foreign interference on campus and members last week were polite, firm and very well informed. Witnesses to watch Friday include ANU VC Brian Schmidt, who might be asked about the great data-diamond cyber heist of 2019 (CMM October 3 2019) and Ian Jacobs (UNSW VC), whose institution attracted attention at last week’s hearing over the way it handled critical commentary of the government of China.

And Uni Queensland’s discipline case against student and human rights activist Drew Pavlou looks like it will come up. Mr Pavlou, a fierce critic of the university’s links to the Chinese government, gave evidence last week. He was thanked by committee chair Senator James Paterson, for his “helpful and powerful statement.”

The committee will hear from Uni Queensland’s Chancellor Peter Varghese, VC Deborah Terry and Provost Aidan Byrne. Previous vice chancellor Peter Høj, (now VC of Uni Adelaide) will appear separately.