Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus orders inquiry into anti-Semitism at universities

Ugly episodes of anti-Semitism have besmirched Australian universities since October 7, and now the government will investigate just how bad things have become.

The federal government has launched a fresh inquiry into anti-Semitism at Australian universities, following months of reported harassment and abuse of Jewish students and staff.

On Tuesday, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced the surge in anti-Jewish racism would be the subject of an inquiry and report from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights.

A Senate committee recommended the inquiry after receiving hundreds of submissions from Jewish students and staff outlining a rising tide of anti-Semitism on campus following the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

The inquiry will consider the prevalence, nature and experiences of anti-Semitism at universities, including frameworks and policies to prevent and respond to it and support provided to students and staff, the government said.

Mr Dreyfus said Jewish students and staff had told him they no longer felt welcome on campus and didn’t believe their universities cared about them.

Pro-Palestine encampments mushroomed across Australian universities in 2024. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

“This is an intolerable situation and urgent action is needed to address the tensions on university campuses to protect the safety of students and staff,” he said.

“The Albanese government is committed to ensuring we deal effectively with this disturbing situation.”

The committee has been asked report to the parliament by March 31, 2025.

But Liberal senator and shadow education minister Sarah Henderson said the move didn’t go far enough and the Opposition wanted to see a Commission of Inquiry with Royal Commission-like powers to investigate the new blush of racism.

“The Albanese Government’s decision to refer the antisemitism crisis at Australian universities to a parliamentary committee is shockingly inadequate,” she told NewsWire.

“This is not only a gross insult to Jewish Australians, but blatantly ignores the recommendations of the government’s own antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, that there must be a judicial inquiry.

“Since 7 October 2023, Labor has repeatedly failed to take the necessary action to combat campus antisemitism.

“That is why so many Jewish students and staff no longer feel safe at university.”

Tensions escalated across multiple universities following the emergence of pro-Palestine encampments on campus.

In May this year, Victoria Police established a new mobile surveillance unit at Melbourne’s Monash University after hard line pro-Palestine protesters appeared to block students from walking freely around the campus this week.

Video captured by a Monash student revealed heated, expletive-laden exchanges with protesters.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced the new inquiry into anti-Semitism at universities on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

In one exchange, the students asks protesters at the camp: “Is it all right if I walk through?”

One protester, speaking with an American accent, replies: “No, you can’t walk through.”

When the student asks why he is not allowed to walk through his own university, the protester says: “Because you’re a Zionist and you’re instigating s**t with us and you need to f**k off.”

Appearing before the Senate, University of Sydney vice chancellor Mark Scott admitted he had “failed” Jewish students at the prestigious centre of higher learning.

“I’ve read the complaints that have been made to the university, and all those shared in submissions in this inquiry and to the special envoy, and the testimonials are heartbreaking and unacceptable and for that I am sorry,” he said.

“No one should feel at risk, unsafe, or unwelcome, at any place of learning.

“And no one should feel the need to hide their identity or stay away from classrooms or campuses.”