University of Melbourne Chancellor Jane Hansen says ‘all racism’ abhorrent as others call out anti-Semitism

Jane Hansen, the chancellor of Australia’s highest-ranked university, has refused to say there is a specific anti-Semitism crisis in higher education.

University of Melbourne Chancellor Jane Hansen. Picture: Drew Echberg

The chancellor of Australia’s highest-ranked university has refused to say there is a specific anti-Semitism crisis in higher education, declaring there are “many different forms of ­racism” that are abhorrent and deserve attention, and that questions of university leaders’ handling of the Israel-Hamas war were “looking for division”.

The comments from University of Melbourne chancellor Jane Hansen came despite the University of Western Australia’s Robert French and the University of Queensland’s Peter Varghese saying on Sunday that university leadership needed to speak out against anti-Semitism in the wake of weeks of anti-Israel protests across the country.

Following weeks of silence on allegations of anti-Semitism, the sandstone chancellors followed Western Sydney Univer­sity chancellor Jennifer Westa­cott in calling out hate speech and creeping anti-Semitism occurring on campuses.

When asked to respond to her fellow chancellors’ con­demnation of anti-Semitism, Ms Hansen said people should consider “how we (university leadership) are all trying our utmost to support those that do suffer racism” rather than “looking for division”.

University of Queensland Chancellor Peter Varghese.

“Our campuses are populated by students and staff from many different cultures and ethnicities. It is important to recognise there are many different forms of ­racism, all abhorrent and all which warrant attention and leadership,” she said.

The University of Melbourne has previously stated in relation to protest encampments that it “actively stands against all forms of racism, including anti-­Semitism and Islamophobia”.

Ms Hansen also stated that “the full University Chancellors Council called out anti-Semitism along with Islamophobia and all other forms of hate speech”.

The council, made up of heads of governing bodies of 39 univer­sities, said more than a week ago that “hate speech or conduct directed at any person or group of persons because of their nationality, ­religion or identity is completely unacceptable”.

Some academics and Jewish leaders criticised the statement for not being strong enough on anti-Semitism.

Mr Varghese, the former secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on Sunday told The Australian “I do back Jennifer’s comments”, adding that the “rise in anti-Semitism in Australia and other countries is a matter of concern and is to be condemned”.

“Hate speech should have no place on campuses. Freedom of speech does not extend to the freedom to engage in anti-Semitism and any criticism of ­Israeli policy should not translate to an attack on the Jewish community,” he said.

Chancellor of the University of Western Australia Robert French. Picture: Marie Nirme

Mr French, the former chief justice of the High Court, said he agreed with Ms Westacott that it was important to “call out anti-Semitism and other racist behaviours when they occur” and that “universities have a duty to protect the safety and wellbeing of students”.

He noted that UWA had acted upon its Code on Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom recently when it cancelled the speaking engagement of British Muslim speaker Sami Hamdi.

“Anti-Semitism is historically a virulent form of racism. It includes speech or action directed against Jewish people because they are Jewish. The test of the universities’ resolve in these matters is how they act in particular cases, each of which may differ,” Mr French said. “They must decide whether what they are dealing with is anti-Semitic conduct or legitimate protest.

“In the end, it is the institution with the power to act that must bear institutional responsibility for meeting its duty. That cannot be delegated to any other body.”

Chancellor of Western Sydney University Jennifer Westacott.

Chancellor of the University of Sydney Belinda Hutchinson told The Australian on Sunday that the university was “unwavering” in “condemning all forms of racial vilification, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia”.

University of Canberra chancellor Lisa Paul also came out in “strong support” of Ms Westacott’s comments. “She (Ms Westacott) calls out that Australia is not a country for hate speech. This is incredibly important in our universities because we celebrate on our campuses people from hundreds of different countries.

Chancellor of the University of Canberra Lisa Paul. Picture: Tyler Cherry

“As Jennifer says, it’s deeply concerning to see a rise in anti-Semitism in Australia when our Australian-Jewish community can hardly be held responsible for events overseas, just as our Islamic community can’t be held responsible for events overseas.

“Our job as universities is to champion freedom of speech and that means opposing hate speech. I’m delighted to work for a university that celebrates people from every country, cultural background, and faith.”

In an op-ed for The Australian, Ms Westacott said “hate speech and anti-Semitism occurring on our campuses is a direct assault on Australia’s multiculturalism and its principles.”

She also said “a line in the sand must be drawn. It cannot fall to one institution or one set of institutions, it is the collective responsibility of all of us to stand up against anti-Semitism and hate speech.”

The Central Synagogues Rabbi Levi Wolff said “collective leadership” was important. “We need firm leadership from our leaders, our teachers and our chancellors.

“As Jennifer Westacott said, we need ‘collective leadership’,” he said. “This is the time to stand up and stamp out the division and anti-Semitism metastasising in our society.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said “this is the sort of leadership Jewish students, academics and the wider community have been crying out for”.