‘Jews not allowed’: SafeWork savages Sydney University over antisemitism on campus

Jewish students at Sydney University had to contend with activists who entered lecture halls chanting antisemitic slogans while others carried banners saying “Jews not allowed”, a preliminary SafeWork NSW investigation into campus culture found.

It said that while the university had the authority, policies and procedures in place to eliminate antisemitism, it failed to act for 11 months and only did so when the safety watchdog began investigating and negative media stories started to pile up.

Jewish students at Sydney University had to contend with student activists who entered lecture halls chanting antisemetic slogans, the report said.Credit: Louise Kennerley

The report, obtained under freedom of information laws and first published by The Australian Financial Review, details how the investigator who visited the campus in September last year recommended SafeWork NSW carry out a full investigation following his preliminary report.

“Jewish workers and students experienced antisemitism daily whilst on campus, creating a workplace of fear, anxiousness and a fear of retribution towards Jewish workers and students because they were Jewish people,” the report said.

However, the watchdog ultimately ignored the recommendation of its own inspector and never carried out a full investigation of the university.

It noted how the safety of Jewish staff and students stemmed from the pro-Palestinian encampment, which sprang up in April 2024 and lasted for eight weeks.

NSW Police raised concerns about the encampment and requested the university take action to remove it, but the institution did not do anything for a further two months, it said.

It outlined how student activists prevented the free movement of workers and students around campus, “confronting people they believed had opposing views and ideologies to their own”.

“Jewish workers and students became frightened and intimidated arriving and leaving the campus and walking past the encampment,” the report said.

It said antisemitic activism on campus consisted of student activist groups.

In one example, which occurred during the orientation week for new students, it said a stand run by the Australian Union of Jewish Students was approached by three women who aggressively ripped the Israeli flag off the stall desk, in front of four Jewish volunteers, causing items to fall off the table.

“They put the flag in the nearby rubbish bin, took a photo of it and then left,” the report said.

NSW Police requested the university take action to remove the encampment, but the institution did not do anything for a further two months.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

It noted that inside a passageway known as the graffiti tunnel, there were Israeli flags with a red circle and line across the middle with words, “zio punks”, “Gaza will be free”. There were “Nazi Germany” swastika stickers painted on walls of the tunnel as well graffiti stating “Israel has no right to exist”.

Other examples included Palestinian activists using a megaphone chanting “there is only one solution, intifada revolution” – interpreted by Jewish workers and students as a reference to Nazi Germany.

Noticeboards around campus promoted the organising of a “student intifada”. There were also posters which said: “Between us and them are mountains of paradise, hatred, blood, wailing and long-lasting revenge”.

Southern Cross University associate professor Andy Smidt, who left Sydney University in February 2024, made the original complaint and said she felt vindicated by its findings. She is still an adjunct associate professor at Sydney.

“The idea that we are seen, we are heard. It was absolutely vindicating,” she said.

“There’s a perception that the Jews on campus were whingeing … Someone external to the university could see clearly that the atmosphere was toxic.”

A spokesperson for SafeWork NSW said: “Following enquiries with the University of Sydney, SafeWork NSW inspectors assessed adequate systems relating to the psychological risk of workers were in place.”

“SafeWork NSW’s Independent Decision Making Panel assessed whether the matter should progress to a full investigation, given the University of Sydney had demonstrated compliant behaviours.”

Sydney University’s senior deputy vice-chancellor and provost Annamarie Jagose said throughout the significant challenges of last year, the institution “took a strong stance against antisemitism and decisive action to stand firmly against hate in all forms”.

“We’ve implemented new measures and complaints related to antisemitism have declined substantially over the last 12 months – but we know even a single complaint is one too many,” she said.

“We’ve co-operated fully with SafeWork NSW’s inquiries and appreciate the care they’ve taken in examining this matter, as well as the consideration they’ve given to activities on campus since October 7, 2023 and how we’ve managed resulting events and risks.”

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