Australia's Monash University confirmed on May 15, 2017, that it had suspended a lecturer after Chinese students complained about a quiz that suggested Chinese officials were truthful only when drunk. Human resources management students at Monash’s business school were asked by the quiz to fill in the blank: “There is a common saying in China that Chinese officials only speak the truth when ...” The correct answer was: “they are drunk or careless.” This question was reportedly from a course text book on human resource management.

China’s Melbourne consulate-general intervened after a May 15 post by a student, Gao Song, complained about the quiz on Chinese social media site Wechat. The consulate expressed concern, urged the university to investigate and pledged to monitor the situation, according to Chinese media reports.