Academic freedom ‘no excuse’ for anti-Semitism, Bill Shorten says

University of Canberra vice-chancellor Bill Shorten issued the warning as universities insisted they are already stamping out anti-Semitism on campus, without the big stick of funding cuts.

UC vice-chancellor Bill Shorten. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

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University of Canberra vice-chancellor Bill Shorten has warned academics and students they cannot hide behind “academic freedom’’ as an excuse for anti-Semitism.

The former Labor leader and the nation’s most high profile university chief said that “there is no world in which spewing hate against people of Jewish heritage can hide behind academic freedom’’.

“This university absolutely rejects anti-Semitism or the hatred of Jewish people, one of the world’s oldest forms of hatred that has relied on myths and tropes and has now emerged from the drains of history again,’’ he told The Australian.

Mr Shorten said it was important that students and staff of Jewish heritage are “free to study without hostility, harassment, or intimidation’’.

“We vigorously oppose all forms of racism and continue to foster a culture of inclusion devoid of racism and prejudice on campus,’’ he said.

Universities insisted on Thursday that they are already stamping out anti-Semitism on campus, without the big stick of funding cuts.

Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said he looked forward to the federal government’s detailed response to the report by special envoy on anti-Semitism, Jillian Segal, who wants universities and individual academics stripped of public funding if they engage in anti-Semitism or hate speech.

“Universities are committed to fostering respectful, inclusive and safe environments for all students and staff,’’ Mr Sheehy said.

“Racism has absolutely no place in Australia’s universities, and our sector condemns it in all forms.

“Academic freedom and freedom of expression are core to the university mission, but they must be exercised with responsibility and never as a cover for hate or harassment.’’

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare refused to say if he would strip universities of funding, saying the Albanese government would first “carefully consider the report and consult with key stakeholders’’.

He said he would also consider a report into racism at universities, by the Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, due at the end of this year.

The Australian Research Council, which administers $1bn a year in taxpayer grants, said it was reviewing Ms Segal’s recommendations.

“The ARC can, and does, terminate funding agreements with administering organisations where obligations of the funding have been breached,’’ a spokesperson said.

The ARC did not say if the grant conditions already prohibit anti-Semitism or hate speech.

Monash University said that it was training staff “how to teach students to engage in respectful and brave conversations on difficult issues and to disagree well’’.

“We acknowledge there is still much work to do, and we welcome the special envoy’s report,’’ a university spokesperson said.

“We are reviewing it in line with the many initiatives the university has undertaken over the past year to respond in a principled and decisive way to rising anti-Semitism.’’

University of Sydney senior deputy vice-chancellor Annamarie Jagose said the university had introduced “significant reforms’’ after disbanding a protest encampment on campus more than a year ago.

A Macquarie University spokesman said it condemns all forms of racism and discrimination.

“We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination, vilification, threats or incitement of violence on grounds of race or religion,’’ he said.

University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Emma Johnston said the executive leadership, as well as staff, were being trained to address anti-Semitism.

“The University of Melbourne remains steadfast in our ongoing commitment to combat anti-Semitism and all forms of racism.’’