Royal Commission hears testimonies of antisemitism in Australian universities post-2023 attacks
Consensus Summary
The royal commission’s fourth block of hearings in Melbourne examined antisemitic incidents at Australian universities, particularly since the 7 October 2023 terrorist attack. Witnesses, including Liat from ANU and ACJ from UNSW, described escalating harassment, Nazi salutes, and threats like being called 'baby killers.' Both sources agree on the 110-day ANU pro-Palestine encampment and the loss of non-Jewish friendships post-2023, but differ slightly on timelines and specific university responses. The Guardian highlights upcoming legally enforceable definitions for antisemitism from next year, while ABC emphasizes the psychological toll of hiding Jewish identity and the lack of university accountability. Both stress the need for stronger protections against hate on campuses.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Four students performed Nazi salutes toward a UNSW academic (ACJ) during a business class in 2024
- Liat, a Jewish student at ANU, moved to Canberra in 2022 to study and described losing most non-Jewish friends after the 7 October 2023 terrorist attack
- ANU had an 110-day pro-Palestine encampment on campus, during which Liat was called a 'baby killer' and 'genocide supporter'
- The royal commission’s fourth block of hearings in Melbourne focused on Jewish students’ and academics’ experiences of antisemitism, including Nazi gestures and university responses
- Liat reported being told by a university event attendee, 'we’re not friends anymore, you’re a Zionist' after the 7 October 2023 attack
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- ACJ, the UNSW academic, said students were initially issued a formal warning and later suspended after NSW police investigated the Nazi salute incident in 2024
- A postgraduate Jewish and Israeli student (ACL) at a Melbourne university stopped wearing her Magen David on campus after the 7 October 2023 attacks
- Australian universities will be required to adopt legally enforceable definitions on antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism from next year
- A lecturer at a Melbourne university told a cohort that a scholar was a 'good Jew' because they 'weren’t a Zionist'
- Counsel assisting Zelie Heger SC noted a 'recurring theme' of Jewish staff and students being assumed to take a particular position on the Middle East despite diverse views
- Liat was told by the Middle Eastern student club during ANU orientation week, 'you're not Middle Eastern, you're Jewish'
- Liat described a 'low level hum of antisemitism' at ANU, including jokes about 'big noses' and Jews being 'good with money'
- A person not connected to ANU performed a Nazi salute during a counter-protest by Jewish students, and Nazi gestures/moustache actions were reported during a Zoom meeting of the university's student association
- ACJ alleged UNSW gave only a verbal warning to the students who performed Nazi salutes, and he was later not offered casual teaching shifts, leading to a Fair Work Commission complaint
- ACJ stopped reporting antisemitic incidents after early 2025 due to fear of employment termination and lack of strength
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the Nazi salute incident at UNSW occurred in 2024, while ABC does not specify a year for ACJ’s testimony but implies it aligns with the 2023–2024 timeline
- The Guardian mentions a 'lecturer' at a Melbourne university making a comment about Zionism, while ABC does not reference this specific incident
Source Articles
UNSW academic subjected to Nazi salutes in class, antisemitism commission hears
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