Australian universities will be required to adopt a formal definition of antisemitism under new governance standards released by the Albanese government.
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 complaints 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.
Education Minister Jason Clare told Sky News Sunday Agenda it was changing the law to mandate universities “to take certain steps in relation to antisemitism”.
“You’re going to hear some pretty horrific evidence tomorrow and over the next few days, in particular from Jewish students about the abuse that they suffered,” he said.
“Universities were caught flat-footed here, and in fairness to the universities, some of them have made important improvements over the course of the last few years.
“But not enough. There’s a lot more to do. We said last year that we would change the law to mandate or require universities to take certain steps in relation to antisemitism.
“What we also need to do is give the regulator of universities more teeth, more powers… The regulator at the moment, if it wants to fine a university, needs to go to court.
“I figure that that’s not the right approach, and so I will introduce legislation to give the regulator more powers over the coming months.”
The standards come after Special Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal released a University Report Card finding the sector had failed to adequately address antisemitism.
Independent assessor Greg Craven concluded that none of the universities assessed had met the report’s requirements on adopting a definition of antisemitism.
“No Australian university assessed met the definitional requirements of the report card,” Mr Craven said.
“Without a clear, adopted, and enforceable definition of antisemitism, efforts to combat hatred on campus are fundamentally compromised.”
The report also found universities lacked effective enforcement mechanisms for protests and responses to alleged on-campus harassment.
The government’s announcement has also coincided with the Bondi Royal Commission turning its attention to the higher education sector.
Representatives from the University of Sydney, UNSW, the University of Melbourne, Monash University and Australian National University are expected to give evidence.
The commission will also hear from Jewish students and academics about their experiences of antisemitism on campus.
In response, shadow education minister Julian Leeser recently described the university sector’s failure to quash the scourge of antisemitism in education as “pathetic”.
“It’s pathetic. The Royal Commission made clear that governments around the country agree on and accept a definition, but our universities cannot,” he said.
Mr Leeser said antisemitism was particularly insidious because unlike other forms of racism, antisemitic conduct was often “painted as being virtuous”.
“This is an issue that should concern all Australians. History teaches us that what starts with the Jews never ends with Jews. Who is next?” Mr Leeser said.
“We have seen 15 of our fellow Australians murdered on Bondi Beach because of their religion. That should be a massive concern to every decent person.
“Universities are where the next generation of leaders are formed, and right now they are failing. There needs to be a cultural shift.”