University heads will be confronted over hate on campus as Australia struggles through a crisis of anti-Semitism.
Vice-chancellors from the University of Sydney, the Australian National University, the University of Queensland and Western Sydney University, alongside members of the student and educators’ unions will front a federal inquiry on the topic when it resumes on Wednesday.
With university students set to return in a matter of weeks, the institutions have acknowledged an increase in anti-Semitism and committed to prevent its occurrence on campus with education and disclosure initiatives.
“We support freedom of speech but draw the line at hate speech,” Western Sydney University’s submission said.
“Our campuses are no place for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, hate speech, intimidation, or violence.”
The spotlight has recently shifted from higher education institutions to broader Australian society after a string of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.
Cars were set alight, a synagogue burnt down, anti-Semitic slurs were painted on buildings and cars, and on Tuesday, a childcare centre close to a place of worship was set ablaze after hateful graffiti was sprayed onto its walls.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Only About Children centre in Sydney’s east and decried the incident as a “despicable and horrifying crime” before bowing to pressure and convening a national cabinet meeting to address attacks aimed at the Jewish community.
The leaders agreed to establish a national database to track anti-Semitic incidents and reaffirmed their commitment to stamping out the hate crimes.
Three men have been charged after vehicles and buildings were damaged in the eastern Sydney suburb of Woollahra, four more have been charged after two suspicious fires in Bondi, and another has been charged after a second vandalism incident in Woollahra.
The Australian Federal Police are investigating whether overseas actors paid locals to carry out the anti-Semitic incidents or if young people have been radicalised online and encouraged to commit these acts.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has repeatedly criticised the government for its handling of anti-Semitism and has suggested those who commit terrorism offences or display hate symbols be sentenced to mandatory jail time, despite concerns from legal experts.
“We will stop anti-Semitism in our country, we will stop those racist acts and I promise the Jewish community that we will do that,” he told party faithful at a rally in Sydney on Tuesday.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has noted that Australia has international human rights obligations to promote equality and freedom from discrimination and protect freedom of expression.
Its submission to the federal inquiry pointed to recommendations from a United Nations committee that calls for governments to consider the content, form and objective of speech – alongside the political climate it was disseminated – when determining whether conduct should be declared an offence punishable by law.