Entire university sector accused of antisemitism failure

The report found not a single university had meaningfully adopted the definition of antisemitism. (ABC News: Chris Gillette) Antisemitism Special Envoy Jillian Segal appointed former Vice-Chancellor Emeritus Professor Greg Craven to issue report cards on the handling of antisemitism on campuses. The report card commenced after complaints about protests on university campuses and claims Jewish staff and students felt unsafe. Professor Craven said he was unable to grade universities because they had all failed at the first hurdle of enshrining a definition and warned of serious consequences. Link copiedShareShare articleEvery Australian university has failed to meaningfully enforce a definition of antisemitism, according to a controversial university report card assessment released today. "No Australian university assessed met the definitional requirements of the report card," said Emeritus Professor Greg Craven, who audited universities on antisemitism. "Without a clear, adopted, and enforceable definition of antisemitism, efforts to combat hatred on campus are fundamentally compromised," Professor Craven said. The report warned if further "sectoral failure" occurred over coming months education minister Jason Clare should consider serious penalties that could impact funding or even registration. Emeritus Professor Greg Craven audited the universities. (Supplied: Linkedin) In a statement, Mr Clare said universities had until July to implement a definition of antisemitism as part of a broader set of efforts to tackle racism at universities. Those requirements are being designed in a separate Antisemitism Education Taskforce led by businessman and former university chancellor David Gonski. "We are making changes to the standards universities must meet to tackle antisemitism and other types of racism," Mr Clare said. "That includes having a definition of antisemitism and other forms of racism, and policies and complaints processes to address it." A separate Antisemitism Education Taskforce is being led by former university chancellor David Gonski. Last year, ABC News revealed that Universities Australia (UA) had written a new definition of antisemitism that was endorsed by 39 universities. The UA definition said criticism of Israel, "is not in and of itself antisemitic" but could be if "grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the state of Israel… or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel's actions." However, the report found not a single university had meaningfully adopted the definition by making it enforceable in formal university rules or regulations, among other failures. "It makes for sobering reading. His [Professor Craven's] findings in relation to the adoption of a definition of antisemitism are deeply concerning," antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal said. The National Territory Education Union said it "vehemently opposed" antisemitism but had concerns some definitions threatened academic freedom. (ABC News: Lucas Hill) "I remain convinced that the adoption of a definition of antisemitism is absolutely essential for combating antisemitism." The report did single out five universities; The University of Canberra, Swinburne University of Technology, Southern Cross University, the University of Southern Queensland and Charles Darwin University as having made significant progress on enforcing a definition. However, it found antisemitism was still a "very serious problem" across Australian universities with Jewish academics having to decide if they want to "come out" as Jews. Professor Craven said this was not just "racist, bigoted, unethical and immoral" but "undermines their [universities] international viability as institutions of research and learning". "Some Jewish academics ascribed elimination of their teaching loads and eventual non-renewal of their contracts as attributable to this silent antisemitism," Professor Craven said. Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism in Australia Jillian Segal said the adoption of a definition of antisemitism is absolutely essential. (ABC News: Matt Roberts) "The opposition of the National Territory Education Union (NTEU) to any form of definition of antisemitism was a strong disincentive to seek industrial support." In a statement, the NTEU said it "vehemently opposed" antisemitism but had concerns some definitions threatened academic freedom. "The claim the NTEU opposed any form of definition of antisemitism is categorically false. We will always stand against all forms of hatred and discrimination," a spokesperson said. The report card commenced after complaints about protests on university campuses and claims Jewish staff and students felt unsafe. (AAP Image: James Ross) "The NTEU opposes definitions of antisemitism that threaten academic freedom by preventing legitimate criticism or scholarly examination of Israel." Professor Craven's original brief was

Entire university sector accused of antisemitism failure

Key takeaways

More in international