SafeWork report finds ‘hazardous workplace’ for Jewish staff, students at Sydney Uni for 11 months
A scathing report into anti-Semitism at the university found that a ‘high-risk … workplace environment’ endured for almost a year due to its inaction to eliminate hate.
A scathing report by a SafeWork NSW inspector into anti-Semitism at the University of Sydney found that a “high-risk psychosocial hazardous workplace” endured for about 11 months due to the “inactions of the university to eliminate” hate.
The investigator who conducted the workplace inspection, and wrote a preliminary report in February, recommended Safework carry out a full investigation, stating there was “no doubt an investigation by SafeWork NSW will identify contraventions of law”.
Yet, this recommendation was ignored by SafeWork NSW’s decision-making panel, as university staff were told a month later the regulator would not proceed.
In early September, 23 Jewish employees and staff at the University of Sydney filed a workplace claim against university management for “psychosocial harm” following a “vicious, racist campaign” on campus, and sought criminal sanctions against vice-chancellor Mark Scott.
The SafeWork NSW Inspectors Report, released under freedom of information laws and obtained by The Australian, noted that “the university had the authority, policies and procedures in place to eliminate anti-Semitism (on campus) but no action was taken by the university for about 11 months” from October 7, 2023 to September 2024.
During this period, students supporting Palestine held an 8-week encampment on the main lawn.
“The university’s failures placed at risk the psychosocial health and safety of Jewish workers and students,” the report, dated February 20 continued, noting that some staff left their employment or took sick leave as a result.
“Jewish workers and students experienced anti-Semitism daily while on campus creating a workplace of fear, anxiousness and a fear of retribution towards Jewish workers and students because they were Jewish people.”
The inspector visited the campus twice in September, 2024, and February, 2025.
The report said “the university always had the authority to eliminate anti-Semitism on campus with the Campus Access rule 2009”, which gave it powers in relation to people coming onto campus, “but failed to enforce its own policy”. The Campus Access policy, updated in 2024, was also not enforced in relation “to managing psychosocial hazards”.
The report stated that campus security failed to take steps to eliminate anti-Semitism on campus and the University of Sydney “took no action to remove” the encampment despite concerns from NSW Police.
The university finally took actions to manage and reduce anti-Semitism on campus 11 months later “because of the involvement of SafeWork, political developments, adverse media focus and advocacy from Jewish complainants and groups”.
The inspector concluded that there is “no doubt an investigation by SafeWork will identify contraventions of law”, and would help to develop legislation and “determine what response is appropriate and proportionate to an alleged breach of the law”.
He recommended a full investigation by SafeWork NSW.
A section under the report titled “outcomes” stated that “this matter was not accepted for full investigation”.
An email in March to the only named complainant Andy Smidt, SafeWork NSW noted a full investigation would not occur but gave no further explanation.
On Wednesday, the former University of Sydney associate professor told The Australian she felt “vindicated” by the report after people had repeatedly denied there was anti-Semitism on campus.
“Here was an independent person, not Jewish, not affiliated with the university in any way, coming onto campus and seeing what we saw. And writing it into a report. It’s then gut-wrenching to see that didn’t go any further,” Ms Smidt said.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost Annamarie Jagose said the university “took a strong stance against anti-Semitism and decisive action to stand firmly against hate in all forms” during a challenging last year.
“We’ve implemented new measures and complaints related to anti-Semitism have declined substantially over the last 12 months – but we know even a single complaint is one too many.
“We’ve co-operated fully with SafeWork NSW’s inquiries and appreciate the care they’ve taken in examining this matter, as well as the consideration they’ve given to activities on campus since 7 October 2023 and how we’ve managed resulting events and risks.”
The University of Sydney commissioned barrister Bruce Hodgkinson to undertake an independent review of university policies and processes in July, 2024, in the wake of the pro-Palestine encampment. The university accepted the 15 recommendations “in principle” in November, and on Monday announced the implementation of a series of policies recommended in the report.
A Safework NSW spokesman said on Wednesday night: “Following enquiries with the University of Sydney, SafeWork NSW inspectors assessed adequate systems relating to the psychological risk of workers were in place.
“SafeWork NSW’s Independent Decision Making Panel assessed whether the matter should progress to a full investigation, given the University of Sydney had demonstrated compliant behaviours.
“SafeWork NSW has met the University of Sydney and the two complainants to advise them of its decision not to progress to a full investigation.
“All businesses have a duty to ensure both the physical and psychological safety of workplaces is secured.”
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