‘English speakers excluded': Chinese agents hit back at divisive real estate video

News.com.au

7 hours ago

Chinese real estate firms in Melbourne have hit back at a self-described 'Western civilisation enjoyer' after his video shared on social media suggested they 'exclude' English speakers.
Drew Pavlou, best known for leading a year-long protest at the University of Queensland against Beijing's anti-democracy activities in Hong Kong, has almost 300,000 followers across various social media platforms.
Earlier this week, he published a video declaring he had 'counted 12 Chinese real estate firms on two of the main shopping streets in Melbourne CBD'.
Mr Pavlou, 26, wrote alongside the video: 'Most of them advertise only in Chinese to foreign buyers, English speakers are excluded ... nobody can explain how this benefits Australia during the worst housing crisis in our national history.'
In the full video, published to YouTube, Mr Pavlou said he was 'fascinated' by 'graffiti everywhere, massive economic changes' and the fact that 'I counted within one 500m stretch 15 bubble tea stores and about 12 Chinese real estate firms'.
'(They) only advertise in the Chinese language for Chinese people to buy property in Australia,' he said. 'It was just beautiful.'
There was plenty of support for Mr Pavlou's video.
'Check out every capital city. Same playbook,' one person wrote.
Speaking to news.com.au, Mr Pavlou said his video was 'not racially motivated' and was 'filmed by my Hong Konger friends (who) fully supported me in making it'.
'My family background is Greek Australian and if there were 12 Greek real estate agencies advertising to Greek overseas buyers in the heart of the Melbourne CBD, I would equally oppose it,' he said.
'I believe this is a legitimate public interest issue. Right now, young Australians are locked out of the housing market due to record-high prices and low supply, yet prime property stock is being marketed directly to offshore buyers who will never live here.
'That inevitably drives demand upward and puts extra pressure on ordinary families and first-home buyers.'
He said an 'open conversation' should be had about 'how to prioritise the housing needs of Australians over overseas buyers'.
Mr Pavlou said he was particularly concerned by a Nord International branch that 'did not feature even a single piece of English language advertising in their shop window'.
News.com.au reached out to Nord International, as well as the other agencies that appeared in Mr Pavlou's video.
Nord International did not respond to a request for comment but other firms hit back.
A number of the firms said they advertise in Chinese and English and have multilingual team members.
Kristy Zhang is the director and co-founder of Austrump Hosting, a real estate business that she says 'serves a diverse client base that reflects Melbourne's multicultural community'.
'While many of our team members are multilingual and we occasionally use Chinese language materials to assist clients who prefer it, we also regularly produce and distribute all our marketing materials — including flyers and brochures — in English,' she said.
'We work with clients from all backgrounds and are committed to providing inclusive and professional service to everyone, regardless of their language or cultural background.'
A spokesperson for Elite Real Estate, also featured in the video, hit back at Mr Pavlou.
'We are aware of the video you've referenced and appreciate the chance to clarify. Our agency operates in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, and we take pride in reflecting that diversity across our team and marketing efforts,' the spokesperson said.
'While some of our content includes Chinese language elements, all of our listings are advertised in English, and our window cards are displayed primarily in English to ensure they are accessible to the wider public.
'Our multilingual team — fluent in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and more — allows us to assist a wide range of clients, including first-home buyers, seasoned investors, landlords, and renters, both locally and internationally.
'To suggest that we exclusively target one demographic is not only inaccurate but also overlooks the reality of our day-to-day operations. We work with clients from all backgrounds and are committed to delivering inclusive, professional, and ethical service to everyone.'
There was some pushback to Mr Pavlou's video by members of the public, too.
Some pointed out that the video was filmed adjacent to Chinatown, a vibrant, historic neighbourhood that celebrates Chinese restaurants, shops and culture.
'When you visit Chinatown and it's Chinese,' one person wrote.
'Bro, you're literally walking through Chinatown, of course there's going to be Chinese restaurants,' another wrote. 'It would be like counting every Italian restaurant in Lygon Street or Pho place in Springvale.'
Pollster and director of the RedBridge Group, Kos Samaras, was among hundreds of people who commented on Mr Pavlou's video.
'Greeks used to run exclusively Greek focused businesses,' he said.
'Brunswick Street in Melbourne was once dotted with countless stores, businesses, that advertised only in Greek. It's what migrant diasporas have done for numerous decades, across the Western world, even in the US and UK.'
Mr Pavlou, who in 2022 interrupted the Chinese Ambassador's speech in Sydney declaring China a 'dictatorship' that is keeping 'one million Muslims in concentration camps', was approached for comment about his concerns regarding 'foreign buyers'.
Foreign buyers own about two per cent of Australia's housing stock and are currently banned from buying established homes in Australia.
The Albanese Government announced earlier this year it would crack down on foreign land banking.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the ban would take place on foreign purchases of established dwellings from April 1 this year until April 2027.
'This is all about easing pressure on our housing market at the same time as we build more homes,' Mr Chalmers said.
'It's a minor change, but a meaningful one because we know that every effort helps in addressing the housing challenge we've inherited.
'The ban will mean Australians will be able to buy homes that would have otherwise been bought by foreign investors.
'Until now, foreign investors have generally been barred from buying existing property except in limited circumstances, such as when they come to live here for work or study.'
But as Australian economist Leith van Onselen notes, 'it is likely that the homes being advertised by the Chinese agencies are newly built properties, since they are permitted for purchase by non-residents'.
'Australian property has long been a magnet for Chinese buyers, both as a store of wealth and for migration purposes,' he told news.com.au.
'Australia's large annual intake of Chinese students and migrants helps to create new demand for purchases.'