Shadow Education Minister calls for a Senate inquiry on antisemitism in university campuses
Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Henderson said Australians were witnessing a failure of leadership from the Albanese Government and vice-chancellors in dealing with antisemitism in Australian universities.
Sarah Henderson
“Everyone on university campuses deserves to be safe, including Jewish students, staff and visitors,” Senator Henderson said.
“The University of Melbourne and University of Sydney, in particular, have become hotbeds of antisemitic activism, in flagrant breach of university policies and codes of conduct which are not being adequately enforced.
It is time for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to show leadership and for his education minister to step up.”
The proposed inquiry will be conducted by the Senate Education and Employment References Committee, chaired by Liberal senator for Western Australia, Matt O’Sullivan.
A motion to establish the inquiry will be lodged in the Senate next week.
“Failure to enforce university guidelines not only creates an unsafe environment for learning but fuels hate speech, and potential violence,” Senator Henderson said.
“Allowing the establishment of encampments opens the floodgates to round-the-clock occupation by extremist protestors, including those who have no connection with a university.
“There must be zero tolerance for antisemitism.
“This is a level of harassment that would not be tolerated for any other group of students.”
A Senate inquiry is urgently required to investigate how antisemitism can be shut down on university campuses, Senator Henderson said.
“An inquiry would not only provide university students and staff with an important voice, but examine what actions or legislative changes may be needed to ensure university campuses are a safe place to learn.”
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “The situation on campus is untenable. We call on the Government to support this inquiry, to ensure Jewish students feel safe on campus.”
ZFA CEO Alon Cassuto said, “There is an urgent need for strong leadership to make our campuses free of hate. For months students have experienced escalating hate speech, harassment, intimidation, and radical non-student activists on campuses with little to no intervention. Enough is enough.”
Federal Liberal MP Julian Leeser has already called for a judicial inquiry. No doubt similar questions will be raised but not by members of parliament.
