Royal Commission on Antisemitism hears testimonies about campus protests targeting Jewish academics
Consensus Summary
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is hearing testimonies about a 9 October 2024 protest at the University of Melbourne, where 20 masked protesters occupied the office of Professor Steven Prawer, a Jewish academic and Zionist. Prawer testified that he feared the incident could be a terrorist attack and described it as a highly personal and intimidating experience. The protest was linked to his research collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and accusations of supporting genocide in Gaza. Two students were initially expelled and two suspended, but penalties were later reduced on appeal. Prawer hired a private investigator to identify the protesters, suspecting possible outside connections, but the university did not act on the report. The commission is examining the universityâs response to antisemitism, with Prawer criticizing the institution for not adequately addressing the incident or protecting him. The interim vice-chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis, is set to appear before the commission, and other university leaders are expected to testify in coming days. The Guardian highlights the broader context of protests and personal attacks on Jewish students and academics, emphasizing the need for universities to balance free speech with preventing misbehavior. Both sources agree that the protest was part of a larger pattern of antisemitic incidents on campuses, with calls for stronger action to address hate and discrimination.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- On 9 October 2024, about 12:30pm, 20 masked protesters occupied Professor Steven Prawerâs office at the University of Melbourne.
- On 9 October 2024, 20 pro-Palestine students occupied Professor Steven Prawerâs office for about 90 minutes.
- The fourth hearing block of evidence at the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is focusing on lived experiences of Jewish Australians on university campuses.
- The University of Melbourneâs then-vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell condemned the protestersâ actions, calling them 'shocked and appalled'.
- Two students were expelled and two were suspended after the 9 October 2024 protest, but penalties were later reduced on appeal.
- A week-long encampment at the University of Melbourne by protesters occurred in 2024.
- The second day of the Melbourne sittings of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion took place during the fourth hearing block of evidence.
- A death threat ('death to Steven Prawer') was graffitied on a university noticeboard in February 2025.
- 150 of Professor Prawerâs colleagues at the University of Melbourne signed a petition in Overland Magazine supporting the protesters.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Professor Prawer hired a private investigator to identify protesters, but the university did not use the report.
- Professor Prawer mentioned a possible 'Hamas connection' or outside links to the protest.
- The protesters occupied Prawerâs office for 'some hours' on 9 October 2024.
- The universityâs investigation into the incident was described as 'opaque'.
- The protest was part of a broader 'week-long encampment' at the university in 2024.
- The protest was linked to Prawerâs role in a research collaboration between the University of Melbourne and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
- The protesters accused Prawer of supporting 'genocide in Gaza' and drew links between his work and Israeli defence.
- The universityâs response to Prawerâs complaints was described as 'timid and lacking moral clarity'.
- The protest was described as a 'betrayal of one of the core promises of university life'.
- The protest was part of the second day of the Melbourne sittings of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
- The protest was described as 'antisemitic' by Prawer, who said it violated academic discourse rules.
- The protest was part of a broader pattern of intimidation, including a death threat graffitied in February 2025.
- The universityâs initial response to Prawerâs complaints was described as 'timid and lacking moral clarity'.
- The protest was part of a 'week-long encampment' at the university in 2024.
- The protest was described as 'disappointing' because it did not offer a chance for dialogue.
- The protest was described as a 'highly personal attack' by Prawer, who feared it could be a 'terrorist attack'.
- The protest occurred 'one year after the atrocities in Israel' (October 2023).
- The protest was part of the fourth block of royal commission hearings in Melbourne this week.
- The protest was described as 'ridiculous' by Prawer, who called the allegations of complicity in genocide 'absurd'.
- The protest was part of a broader discussion about universities not doing enough to deal with protests and 'highly personal' attacks.
- The protest was linked to the universityâs partnerships with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
- The protest was described as a 'legitimate form of protest' by 150 university employees and affiliates in a petition.
- The protest was part of a broader discussion about the need for universities to 'tolerate dissent but not misbehaviour'.
- The protest was part of a broader discussion about the impact of the 7 October Hamas terror attack on Jewish students.
- The protest was part of a broader discussion about the need for 'respectful debate' on Israel-Palestine issues.
- The protest was part of a broader discussion about the need for universities to 'build bridges' between Jewish and Palestinian communities.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The ABC states the protest lasted 'some hours' on 9 October 2024, while the Guardian states it lasted 'about 90 minutes'.
- The ABC states the protesters were 'masked' and 'wearing keffiyehs', while the Guardian states they were 'covered in keffiyehs, hoods, and masks'.
- The ABC states the protest was part of a 'week-long encampment' in 2024, while the Guardian does not mention a week-long encampment but focuses on the sit-in and office occupation.
- The ABC states the protesters were '20 masked protesters' on 9 October 2024, while the Guardian states '20 pro-Palestine students' without specifying the number of masks.
- The ABC states the protest was part of the 'second day of the Melbourne sittings', while the Guardian states the hearings are part of the 'fourth block of royal commission hearings' without specifying the day.
Source Articles
Professor hired private investigator after protest, commission hears
Jewish Australian professor Steven Prawer says he paid a private investigator to try to find out whether people who occupied his University of Melbourne office were students on his campus.
Jewish professor says 'intimidating' protest changed his life on campus
Melbourne University professor Steven Prawer hopes the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will lead to campus change, following a 2024 demonstration that saw protesters invade his office.
Universities not doing enough to deal with protests and âhighly personalâ attacks, antisemitism royal commission hears
Royal commission into antisemitism hears professor whose office was occupied by protesters did not know at time whether it was a âterrorist attackâ Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast A Jewish professor has told the royal commission into antisemitism the University of Melbourne needs to show it doesnât âtolerate misbehaviourâ after the expulsion of two pro-Palestine student activists who occupied his office was overt