A university physics professor has recounted the moment a group of masked students stormed his office and accused him of genocide.
Hearing block four of the inquiry, which is being held in Melbourne, focuses on the lived experiences of antisemitism among Jewish attendees at Australian universities.
The inquiry, headed by retired High Court Justice Virginia Bell, will also scrutinise Australian universities on their response to rising antisemitism.
University of Melbourne physics professor Steven Prawer recounted the moment a group of masked students stormed his office and refused to leave.
Professor Prawer was involved in a joint PhD program with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, but he said student activists mistakenly thought he was playing a key role in the university’s partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG).
The DSTG has been targeted by pro-Palestine activists for its role in the global defence industry.
Professor Prawer in his testimony on Tuesday told the commission that students had picketed outside his building in September 2024.
He said university security had intercepted him on his walk back to the building and escorted him to safety.
A month later, about two dozen masked students and protesters entered his office.
Professor Prawer said it was like being in a bank as someone walks in with a “balaclava over their head”.
“Although they might be there to make a withdrawal, I think most people would be alarmed,” he said.
“I was very perturbed. I had no idea at that stage if it was a protest or if it was a terrorist attack.”
Professor Prawer said the protesters told him they had been waiting to chat with him. He asked them to leave and make an appointment.
“They said: ‘No, we won’t leave’. I said: ‘You’re trespassing, and you’re in my private space’ … they said to me: ‘Well, Israel trespasses on Palestinian lands’, and I didn’t know what to say to that,” he said.
“As I left the office area to seek security, they chanted, ‘Prawer, Prawer, you can’t hide. You’re guilty of genocide.’”
Professor Prawer said students would protest against the vice-chancellor who was “paid for that” and “well protected” by security.
“One might say that it’s legitimate for people to protest at the seat of power. In my case, they were protesting against someone who I think was a soft target, a clearly identifiable soft target,” he said.
“This was not a spontaneous protest born of excessive zeal. This was highly organised, and students were very disciplined. They knew exactly how far to go before the police would arrest them.”
On Monday, the Royal Commission heard evidence that how some pro-Palestine university protests “crossed the line” into antisemitism.
It comes after the Albanese government announced it would force universities to adopt a formal definition of antisemitism.
The threshold standards require universities to take steps to prevent racism and antisemitism, respond appropriately, and adopt recognised definitions for hate.
Universities will also be required to establish clear and transparent processes so students and staff understand how complaints can be made and handled.
The reforms represent the federal government’s strongest intervention yet into university governance following sustained concerns about rising antisemitism on campuses.