No Australian university has meaningfully enforced a definition of antisemitism — a new report finds — as federal legislation will soon tie university accreditation to demonstrated action against the problem.
Report Findings
Emeritus Professor Greg Craven’s assessment evaluated universities against criteria including definition, training, complaints processes, and policy review. The report concluded that without a clear, adopted, and enforceable definition, efforts to combat hatred on campus are compromised.
The original brief was to provide individual report cards for each university, but the sector-wide failure to enforce a definition made this impossible.
Five universities were identified as making significant progress: University of Canberra, Swinburne University of Technology, Southern Cross University, University of Southern Queensland, and Charles Darwin University.
Legislative Changes
From July 15, Australian university threshold standards will require institutions to demonstrate actions to prevent and respond to antisemitism and other forms of racism.
Education Minister Jason Clare stated that universities have until August to implement a definition of antisemitism as part of broader efforts to tackle racism.
The government will amend legislation to strengthen the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), making commitment to addressing racism a condition of accreditation with monitoring powers.
Taskforce and Curriculum Development
The Antisemitism Education Taskforce, chaired by businessman and former university chancellor David Gonski, was established after last year’s Bondi terror attack to address antisemitism in education. Its interim report provided feedback on proposed legislative amendments.
A "social cohesion hub" for schools and teachers has been launched containing approximately 50 resources, with roughly half focused on antisemitism, including lessons on the Holocaust, hate speech, and unconscious bias. The hub will cost $6 million over five years.
States are piloting UNESCO-designed training for teachers and policymakers on addressing antisemitism and discrimination. The Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) will conduct a wider review of the national curriculum by the end of the year.
University and Stakeholder Responses
Universities Australia endorsed a definition of antisemitism last year, stating that criticism of Israel is not inherently antisemitic but could be if based on harmful tropes or calls for elimination of Israel. However, the report found no university had made it enforceable in formal rules.
The Group of Eight (Go8) said it takes the report seriously and is working to address the issues. Universities Australia acknowledged the envoy's work and stated it is committed to combating antisemitism.
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said it opposes antisemitism but expressed concern that some definitions threaten academic freedom by preventing legitimate criticism of Israel. Academics and their union have voiced concerns that certain definitions could threaten academic freedom in this context.
Government and Political Responses
Antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal called the findings deeply concerning and emphasized the importance of adopting a definition. She expressed hope that the hub and UNESCO training will help schools respond to rising antisemitism, intolerance, and prejudice.
Shadow Education Minister Julian Leeser called the failure "pathetic and damaging," warning of broader societal risks.
Greens spokesperson Mehreen Faruqi criticized the hub for creating a "hierarchy of racism," noting it includes 24 resources on antisemitism but only two on Islamophobia and one on First Nations hate.
Other Developments
- Universities were asked by Special Envoy Jillian Segal to provide a timetable for adopting a definition of antisemitism by the end of August. Report cards on progress, initially due soon, have been delayed to 2027.
- A Commonwealth Research Grants Working Group will deliver advice by October on aligning grant decisions with combating antisemitism, hate, and extremism.
- The Antisemitism Education Taskforce's final report is due in December.