Federal government waters down racial inquiry as Jewish groups demand focus on anti-Semitism

Jewish groups are demanding a judicial inquiry into anti-Semitism in unis after Labor watered down its promised inquiry into racism.

Pro-Palestine supporters and Jewish students have established separate campsites at the University of Queensland St Lucia campus. Picture: Richard Walker

Jewish groups are demanding a judicial inquiry into anti-Semitism in universities after the Albanese government watered down its promised inquiry into racism.

The Australian Human Rights Commission will carry out a two-year internal study, in place of the “inquiry into racism’’ announced in the federal budget on Tuesday.

Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman will lead the study into “anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and the experience of First ­Nations people in the university sector’’.

As Jewish groups demanded a judicial inquiry into escalating anti-Semitism, the AHRC ­revealed that its study would focus on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Mr Sivaraman described the study as “research’’. “Our research will be centred on people’s lived experiences, with a strong focus on First Nations students and staff,’’ he said. “We will take a robust independent approach that is trauma-informed, providing the government and higher education sector with recommendations that help us understand where things currently stand, and how they can be ­improved.’’

As pro-Palestinian protesters at three universities defied orders to dismantle their encampments on Wednesday, Jewish leaders demanded the government focus instead on anti-Semitism and hate speech against Jewish staff and students.

Federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser said the level of anti-Semitism on campus since October 7 last year, when Hamas attacked Israel, was “unprecedented’’.

“The government’s approach shows once again that they are failing to recognise the particular problem of anti-Semitism on campus,’’ he said. “By doing so, the government is underplaying the harassment and intimidation experienced by Jewish staff and students on campus every day throughout the country.

“There needs to be a stand-alone inquiry about anti-Semitism on campus.’’

Liberal MP Julian Leeser wants a judicial inquiry into anti-Semitism. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Symons

Teal MP Allegra Spender is supporting a judicial inquiry. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Leeser said he was preparing a private member’s bill to set up a judicial inquiry. “I believe a judicial inquiry is the best way to ensure that university authorities are held to account for their ­failure to act on this issue over several years,’’ he said.

“Such an inquiry would also provide protection to staff and students who would wish to come forward but who may fear reprisals in a more public process.’’

Teal MP Allegra Spender, whose Sydney electorate of Wentworth includes a high proportion of Jewish voters, supported the push for a judicial inquiry.

“I have spoken to members of the Jewish community who have told me they prefer to see a ­judicial inquiry over a Senate inquiry into anti-Semitism on campus to avoid politicisation of a really serious issue,’’ she said.

‘From the River to the Sea’ sign at the University of Queensland. Picture: Liam Kidston

Education Minister Jason Clare said the Universities ­Accord had recommended the study, which would “help to make our universities safer places for students and staff’’.

He said there was no place for “hate or intimidation or intolerance’’ anywhere in Australia.

“In the lifetime of our grandparents, we’ve seen the evil that anti-Semitism can lead to,’’ he told the ABC. “Jewish students have made that very clear to me that in many cases they’re being made to feel unwelcome and unsafe at universities.

“What I’ve said to vice-chancellors is that their most important job here is to make sure that students and staff are safe … they need to make sure (their) codes of conduct are enforced.’’

Federal opposition education spokeswoman Sarah Henderson is negotiating crossbench support for a Senate inquiry.

“While the vote on the Senate inquiry has been deferred to ­facilitate further discussions, the Coalition is calling on the government to back its inquiry,’’ she said. “I have no confidence the AHRC can deliver the immediate and urgent solutions that Jewish university students and staff deserve.’’

Labor is pushing against the idea of a Senate inquiry, but is likely to support an inquiry into hate speech and the right of all students to feel and be safe. It wants any Senate inquiry to ­address hate speech in all forms, including Islamophobia, racism and the experience of First ­Nations students.

Mr Clare said the AHRC would provide an interim report by year’s end, with a final report by June 30 next year.

But the AHRC said the $2.5m study would be “carried out over two years”.

The Zionist Federation of Australia called on the government to release the terms of reference for the AHRC study, and ensure it has the power to compel universities to give evidence and provide documents.

“Anti-Semitism on campus is at intolerable levels,’’ ZFA president Jeremy Leibler said. “We worry a 12-month time span in what has been described as merely a ‘study’ does not reflect the urgency or severity of the situation.”