Research Council probe into Randa Abdel-Fattah stalls as Queensland University of Technology baulks
An Australian Research Council probe into anti-Israel activist Randa Abdel-Fattah has stalled.
An Australian Research Council probe into anti-Israel activist Randa Abdel-Fattah has stalled because the Queensland University of Technology is refusing to hand over video evidence of her tirade at its anti-racism symposium.
The ARC has revealed it has now spent a year investigating concerns over an $870,000 research grant awarded to Dr Abdel-Fattah through Macquarie University to research the history of Arab and Muslim-Australian social projects since the 1970s.
ARC acting chief executive Richard Johnson said he had asked Macquarie University and QUT to provide video or a transcript of Dr Abdel-Fattah’s speech in which she boasted that “I look for ways to bend rules’’.
As a symposium guest panellist, she stated that she had refused an ARC requirement to stage a traditional academic conference. And she declared: “I refuse to cite anybody who has remained silent over Gaza, no matter how authoritative and big they are in their fields … they are deficient human beings.’’
Dr Johnson said he had written to QUT vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil – who is a former ARC chief executive – asking if she had a video or transcript of the comments. “I sought personally to get a copy of the evidence,’’ Dr Johnson told a late-night Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Thursday.
“Neither Macquarie was in a position at that point to be able to furnish it to us, and because of QUT entering into their own review and inquiries, they said it would be inappropriate for them to furnish it to us.
“Now we will ask and require Macquarie University to … seek the evidence as part of their dealings with the researcher.
“We’ve been engaging with Macquarie University for a year on this matter.’’
A QUT spokesman on Friday would not answer The Australian’s questions about whether it had filmed the event and sent a video to the ARC.
“As soon as QUT became aware of statements by a symposium panellist regarding potential misalignment with ARC grant requirements, it notified the ARC and Macquarie University,’’ the spokesman said. “QUT has commissioned a review into the symposium and associated events and activities, led by (former Federal Court judge) John Middleton KC and will not make further comment on matters related to that review until it is finalised.’’
A Macquarie University spokesman said it would report its findings to the ARC “in the second half of 2025’’. “Macquarie University will undertake the investigation based on the procedures set out in the Australian Code for Responsible Conduct of Research and the aligned Macquarie University Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research,’’ the spokesman said.
An ARC spokesman said it had issued a “notice of suspension’’ to Macquarie University.
“The notice suspended all activity related to the grant, including all expenditure, and directed Macquarie University to undertake a number of investigations,’’ it said.
“The ARC’s decision to suspend the grant was not taken lightly or hastily.
“As the administering organisation, Macquarie University is responsible for ensuring the proper management of commonwealth funds under the ARC grant agreement.
“Macquarie University is co-operating fully with the ARC in the matter.’’
ARC chairman Peter Shergold – who is a former secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and a former chancellor of the University of Western Sydney – told the hearing he had an obligation to investigate the issues raised by The Australian.
“This is not an issue about free speech,’’ he said. “It’s about the acquittal of public funds.
“It is clear, I think, that if a story appears in a newspaper where a grant recipient is alleged to have said, ‘I look for ways to bend the rules, to subvert them’ … what sort of public servant would it be who ignored that?
“The grant is suspended until Macquarie University is able to come back and give us clear evidence that they have managed this grant.’’
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