Testimonies on campus antisemitism underway
'The only way to confront this shameful stain on our academic institutions is through a judicial inquiry with royal commission-like powers'
There is a “complete lack of trust” on the part of Jewish students and staff that their institutions have their safety as a priority, Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto told the Senate committee looking into a bill for a judicial enquiry on antisemitism on campus on Friday.
Giving his opening statement to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, Cassuto said no other minority would be expected to put up with the “sheer scale of hatred” Jewish students and staff have experienced on campuses.
“What distinguishes the universities that managed the situation effectively, from those that did not, is strong leadership,” he said.
“Allowing a UK-listed terrorist organisation and extremist group, Hizb Ut-Tahrir, on campus to participate in the protests at USYD is not strong leadership.
“Overturning the expulsion of an ANU student who declared on ABC Radio that Hamas – a terrorist organisation – “deserves our unconditional support” – is not strong leadership.
“Universities are now responsible for fostering an environment on campuses where students have been given the greenlight to do or say whatever they want with zero consequences.”
While he said some may argue a judicial inquiry isn’t needed, “The lived experiences of Jewish students and staff tell a different, far more troubling story.
“The only way to confront this shameful stain on our academic institutions is through a judicial inquiry with royal commission-like powers—for the sake of both our universities and their Jewish students and staff,” Cassuto said.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) co-CEO Peter Wertheim said even the announcement of a judicial enquiry “will absolutely change the atmospherics” and “create the right cultural environment”.
It would “act as a spur” to perhaps expand the powers of the recently announced National Student Ombudsman, lead to better complaints procedures, a better understanding of what antisemitism is and possibly education programs for administrators to better understand the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
“All of those things are helpful, but they will not address the underlying issue of the broader legal and other constraints under which universities operate. And that is for an inquiry,” Wertheim said.
ECAJ head of legal Simone Abel added, “We’ve, in fact, already seen anecdotally, just the fact of this Senate inquiry has resulted in more responsiveness from universities around some of the issues that have been raised.
“So there’s no question in my mind that having this process and ultimately moving towards a judicial inquiry will be highly effective.
“But we do ultimately need that judicial inquiry, because that will get at the truth of the situation.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said there was also more that can be done in the interim.
Drawing on examples in the United States, he said universities should forbid conduct that disrupts teaching, learning and research.
“They really shouldn’t allow anyone to interfere with their core activities, from classroom disruptions or noisy demonstrations, or actions designed to prevent invited speakers from expressing their views,” he said.
“They should resist any efforts to close off campus public spaces for any individuals or groups,” he said. “They should absolutely enforce the rules that they have, because rules mean nothing unless they’re enforced.”
Universities should also consider introducing a system of escalating punishment for serious violations, he added.
Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal gave her evidence on Wednesday.
More to come.
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