Antisemitism in our universities: a wake-up call
The Senate's inquiry received a staggering 669 submissions, with a remarkable 420 marked as confidential or name withheld.
The recent parliamentary Senate inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities has laid bare a troubling reality that can no longer be ignored.
As someone who has studied social inclusion for decades, I’m deeply concerned by the systematic targeting and harassment many Jewish students and academics are experiencing on our campuses.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about political disagreement or discomfort.
This is about genuine fear, harassment and discrimination that is creating a hostile environment for Jewish students and staff across the country.
The Senate’s inquiry received a staggering 669 submissions, with a remarkable 420 marked as confidential or name withheld.
That alone speaks volumes.
The fear is so palpable that people are afraid to even put their names to their experiences of antisemitism.
What emerged were three distinct responses to the rising tide of antisemitism.
The anti-racist approach
Most submissions came from organisations genuinely committed to combating antisemitism.
The Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism (5A) surveyed 590 students and staff, revealing a majority who do not feel safe on campus.
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) documented 13 distinct instances of verbal abuse, hostile rhetoric and physical threats.
These submissions were not just statistics.
They were deeply personal accounts of Jewish students feeling ostracised, targeted and fundamentally unsafe because of their identity.
The ‘blame the victim’ narrative
A small but vocal minority tried to downplay or deny these experiences entirely.
Groups like Muslim Votes Matter and the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network suggested that claims of antisemitism were merely “subjective feelings of discomfort” rather than genuine threats.
Most troublingly, some Jewish anti-Zionist groups argued that antisemitism was being exaggerated, effectively invalidating the lived experiences of their own community.
The bystander approach
Perhaps most disappointing was the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).
While claiming to oppose antisemitism, they’ve done little to actually address it.
They admitted 53 members have resigned due to their perceived failure to condemn antisemitic activities, yet they continue to sit on the fence.
The real problem
What we are seeing are not just isolated incidents.
There is a systematic attempt to normalise antisemitism under the guise of political activism.
Some academics are actively working to create an inter-generational antisemitic movement, framing all pro-Israel Jews as political enemies to be excluded from public discourse.
A stark example is the recent incident at the University of Melbourne, where a group of over 120 staff signed an online letter defending a mob that invaded Professor Steven Prawer’s office – a Jewish academic who was racially harassed for months.
The inquiry rejected a full judicial investigation as too slow, but recommended universities review their complaints processes.
A further parliamentary inquiry chaired by Josh Burns is set to report by March 2025.
But we can’t wait for bureaucratic processes. We need immediate, concrete action.
These would include comprehensive anti-racist education that explores the complex history of antisemitism, clear institutional policies protecting Jewish students and staff and legal mechanisms to challenge systematic discrimination.
The recent class action racial vilification suit against the University of Sydney might be a promising avenue for change.
A personal reflection
As an academic who has spent years studying social inclusion, I’m deeply troubled.
Antisemitism is not a historical relic – it’s a living, breathing threat in our educational institutions.
We must recognise that legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies is not antisemitism.
But equally, we must not tolerate the racist essentialising of Jews or the denial of their right to safety and freedom of speech.
Our universities should be places of critical reflection and respectful dialogue across diverse perspectives.
Right now, they’re falling catastrophically short of that ideal.
It’s time for all of us – academics, students, administrators and policymakers – to take a stand.
Antisemitism has no place in our educational institutions or our society.
Professor Philip Mendes is the director of the Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit at Monash University.
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