‘Degree of self-denial’: Jillian Segal tells Senate inquiry Australian universities not aware of extent of alleged anti-Semitism on campuses

A Senate inquiry has been told Australian universities are in “self-denial” over the true problem of anti-Semitism, as students allege they have been “singled out” and taunted over their identities.

Australian universities are in “self-denial” on the extent of embedded anti-Semitism on their campuses amid allegations Jewish students are being “singled out” by lecturers because of their identities, a Senate Committee has been told.

Jillian Segal, Australia’s special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, made the comments on Tuesday during one of the public hearings into the Commission of Inquiry into anti-Semitism at Australian Universities.

Ms Segal is the former president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and was appointed to the role tasked with identifying measures to educate people on anti-Semitism and advise the Federal Government.

During Tuesday’s hearing, she said there was “systemic anti-Semitism” which was “embedded” on university campuses, explaining she felt authorities did not understand or appreciate scope of the problem.

Jillian Segal fronted a Senate Standing Committee hearing on Tuesday, where she claimed Australian universities did not understand the true extent of anti-Semitism due to how ‘embedded’ the problem actually is. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

“Cultural change is therefore incredibly important, and needed,” she said.

“It is a special form of racism, it is different,”

“A generalised approach doesn’t work. You need to have a focused approach to anti-Semitism.”

Ms Segal said there was a “degree of self-denial” as to how bad the situation was.

The current parliamentary inquiry is examining alleged anti-Semitism on university campuses in Australia, amid ongoing tensions over the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel.

The hearing follows encampments being set up on several university campuses in protest of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Senator Sarah Henderson during the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied / YouTube

Several pro-Palestine encampments emerged on university campus grounds as part of protests against Israel’s retaliatory action, which has led to over 42,000 Palestinians being killed.

In June, University of Sydney staff ordered protesters at one of their encampments off the grounds – with security eventually moving broken items and rubbish, and tents that were not occupied.

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson has pushed the current bill and on Tuesday asked Ms Segal if on her thoughts about studies by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) into alleged racism at universities.

Ms Segal replied that Jewish academics “did not have confidence” in the HRC.

“We have quite a crisis in our universities and it needs action to bring about cultural change. The HRC is not in a position to do that at this point,” she said.

“We don’t need small little bits of change.

“The university hierarchy, almost across the board … do not appreciate the extent of the difficulty, the embedded anti-Semitism.

Ms Segal clarified she wasn’t suggesting chancellors were anti-Semitic – only that they were not aware of what was actually going on.

She said one example of “embedded” anti-Semitism included Jewish students at one university being asked about their opinions of Israel by lecturers, which had nothing to do with their studies.

Those students were then taunted and “singled-out” because of their identities, Ms Segal said.

“That is focused, pointed anti-Semitism, making a student feel harassed and alone,” she said.

“And then suggesting that when they complain … they study at home.”

Originally published as ‘Degree of self-denial’: Jillian Segal tells Senate inquiry Australian universities not aware of extent of alleged anti-Semitism on campuses