QUT reveals more details about review into controversial anti-racist symposium

The Queensland University of Technology has announced new details about a review into a of a controversial ‘anti-racism’ event last month that sparked national outrage.

An image from footage of a QUT event with a slide describing “Dutton’s Jew”, accusing the Opposition Leader Peter Dutton of politicising the Jewish community.

The Queensland University of Technology has announced more details about its independent review into last month’s controversial National Symposium on Unifying Anti-Racist Research and Action event.

The review will be conducted by Justice John Middleton.

It comes after the university was slammed for the event which sparked national outrage from leaders and the Jewish community and was labelled “a disgrace” by opposition leader Peter Dutton.

Justice John Middleton. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

At the event’s “the GREATEST RACE debate”, leaked footage and imagery showed attendees were faced with an image including a mock superhero with the words DJ for “Dutton’s Jew” across its chest.

The superhero in the slide shown during a presentation by Jewish Council of Australia’s Sarah Schwartz included features such as “anti-immigrant”, “hates Palestine’s, Arabs and Muslims”, “scared of protesters” and “thinks of anti-Semitism as the only form of racism”.

The university issued an apology to those offended by the event and vowed it would review it further.

QUT Vice-Chancellor Margaret Sheil said Justice Middleton’s review would consider the content of the symposium, as well as “the broader program of events and activities surrounding it”.

“We appreciate that Justice Middleton has agreed to independently assess the events and activities surrounding the recent symposium and await his findings,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

According to QUT, the time frame and terms of the review remain in consultation with Justice Middleton and the findings will be released.

Originally published as QUT reveals more details about review into controversial anti-racist symposium