Group of Eight report calls for stronger action against campus antisemitism
Australia’s leading universities have been urged to give vice chancellors clearer authority to act quickly on antisemitism on campus, including by building direct relationships with senior police before crises arise.
A report led by former chief scientist and former Monash University chancellor Dr Alan Finkel makes 21 recommendations to the Group of Eight on complaints, codes of conduct, protest management, education, social media and university leadership.
Dr Alan Finkel (photo: X.com)
The Expert Advisory Committee on Combatting Antisemitism was established by the Group of Eight on 18 December 2025, shortly after the 14 December 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack. Its brief was to advise universities on preventing and responding to antisemitism.
The Group of Eight (Go8) is a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, representing about 70 per cent of the nation’s university research output and educating many of its future leaders, researchers and professionals. Its members are the universities of Sydney, Melbourne, New South Wales, Queensland, Adelaide, Western Australia, Monash and the Australian National University.
The report notes steps taken by universities since the 2024 protest encampments, such as improved complaints processes, safety measures and protest rules. However, many Jewish students, staff and community members still lack confidence that universities are acting early or decisively enough.
The committee recommends that vice chancellors be empowered to make timely and lawful decisions when serious risks emerge, rather than waiting for issues to escalate. It also calls for pre-established relationships with senior police and security agencies at the vice chancellor and deputy commissioner level to enable rapid responses to protests or threats.
Sydney University encampment (via Wikimedia)
In a statement, Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said university leaders were expected to consider the recommendations, with the board now reviewing the report received on 13 June 2026.
The report urges Group of Eight universities to embed the Universities Australia working definition of antisemitism into codes of conduct, complaints processes and disciplinary systems. Universities Australia adopted the definition on 27 February 2025 after a parliamentary inquiry. It states that criticism of Israel is not antisemitic by itself but can become so when based on harmful stereotypes, calls for Israel’s elimination or holding Jewish people collectively responsible for Israel’s actions.
The Finkel committee preferred this definition over the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance version, saying it better suited university disciplinary processes.
On complaints handling, the report recommends resolution within 45 working days where practicable, independent handlers, regular updates to all parties, and clearer escalation for cases involving senior staff, conflicts of interest or serious harm.
Other recommendations cover training for executives, staff and students, clearer social media rules, improved protest management, and a review of academic freedom in antisemitism complaints.
The report has been provided to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
The Group of Eight said it remained committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of racism on campus.
The full report is available here.
