Coalition will end the hate on university campuses
Some of Australia’s most prestigious universities failed to uphold the basic rights of safety, respect and inclusion for Jewish Australians
Antisemitism is a vile stain on any civilised society. It is not only an attack on the Jewish community – it is an assault on the values of tolerance, diversity and freedom which define Australia.
Since the heinous Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, we have witnessed a shocking surge in antisemitic hate across our nation. It is hard to comprehend what has unfolded. The fire-bombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, the attack on a Sydney childcare centre, the vile graffiti on schools and burnt out cars in Jewish neighbourhoods. Among the most disturbing developments has been the eruption of antisemitic hate and incitement on university campuses.
In the face of an absence of leadership from the Albanese government over the hate-filled protest encampments, unlawful building occupations and classroom invasions, extremist members of Hizb ut-Tahrir were emboldened to threaten and menace Jewish students and staff at the University of Sydney.
At the University of Melbourne, the office of a highly renowned Jewish academic was stormed, seemingly with no repercussions.
In one of the most sickening incidents, children were encouraged to attend a campus protest and chant anti-Jewish terrorist slogans.
While the Coalition joined Jewish leaders desperately calling for action, there was nothing but weasel words from Prime Minister Albanese and his education minister, Jason Clare. That is a betrayal of the fundamental duty of a government to protect all Australians, regardless of their faith.
The statistics tell a grim story. Even before the October 7 attacks, 64 per cent of Jewish students had experienced antisemitism at university. More than half had hidden their identity. One in five avoided campus altogether out of fear. And when these students did speak up, most were ignored.
This is not just a crisis of hate, it is a crisis of institutional failure. Some of Australia’s most prestigious universities failed to uphold the basic rights of safety, respect and inclusion for Jewish Australians. And this hapless Labor government stood by and allowed this to happen.
That ends under a Coalition government. Everyone has a right to be safe on the street, at work, when walking to school or attending university. Under the leadership of Peter Dutton, a Coalition government will do whatever it takes to stamp out antisemitism in all its ugly forms including on university campuses.
This includes:
- establishing a Commission of Inquiry into antisemitism at Australian Universities to be led by an eminent jurist;
- requiring universities adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism;
- developing a National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Anti-Semitism which will cover both student and staff safety;
- prohibiting encampments and other activities designed to intimidate and vilify students and staff;
- obligating universities to report antisemitism complaints to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, enabling referral to Home Affairs if necessary;
- deporting students on visas found guilty of antisemitic misconduct; and
- appointing an antisemitism specialist within the office of the National Student Ombudsman to address incidents and support affected students.
It is deeply concerning that none of these initiatives is supported by Labor. Academic freedom must not be used to falsely cloak incidents of antisemitism.
As Marcia Langton so compellingly argued in her January 27, 2025 column in The Australian – No excuse for allowing Jewish hate to fester on our campuses:
“Academic freedom is not freedom of speech; these are very different concepts and rights. Only academics are entitled to academic freedom and this right is conditional on their work conforming with the rigorous rules of the academies and their disciplines that relate to evidence, ethics and integrity.
“Freedom of speech is also limited by laws relating to defamation, racial and other forms of discrimination. University administrators and antisemitic protagonists alike have conflated the two concepts; one seeking refuge against their responsibilities on false grounds and the other seeking free licence on our campuses to spread antisemitism and hatred.”
The Coalition will also:
- create an Antisemitism Taskforce led by the Australian Federal Police to investigate crimes against the Jewish community, including immediate visa cancellations for perpetrators;
- deliver a $32.5 million security package for Jewish schools and synagogues, including armed guards where needed – something Labor has resisted;
- provide $7.5 million for Crime Stoppers to tackle extremism and hate crimes; and
- support the rebuilding of the Adass Israel synagogue.
Our message is simple: the Coalition stands with Jewish Australians, every step of the way.
The Greens, on the other hand, are a dangerous, antisemitic political party which would take our nation backwards if ever they got their hands on the levers of power. It is unfathomable that Labor is preferencing the Greens in nearly every electorate. A minority Labor-Greens government is a frightening prospect.
In these very uncertain times, the leadership offered by the Coalition matters. Because no Australian should ever have to hide who they are to feel safe in their own country.
Sarah Henderson is the Shadow Minister for Education and a Liberal senator for Victoria.
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