Topics: Anti-Israel activists target academic at University of Melbourne; urgent need for a Commission of Inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities.
Jacqui Felgate: We know that the past year has been very hard for the Jewish community here in Melbourne and this week was particularly difficult, October 7, the one year anniversary of the Hamas attack. And here on a local level, tensions are high and sadly it seems antisemitism appears to be again on the rise in Melbourne. And when I speak to members of the Jewish community, they say that this is the worst place in Australia for it. There is a story in The Australian today that has highlighted a professor at the University of Melbourne – he’s been targeted several times in his office, his personal work office, by anti-Israeli protesters. And what has occurred, and what has happened to him is nothing short of a disgrace. Senator Sarah Henderson is the federal shadow minister for education. Senator, appreciate your time.
Senator Henderson: Jacqui, terrific to join you.
Jacqui Felgate: Alright so what happened in the latest incident, which I believe occurred only yesterday?
Senator Henderson: It did indeed, Professor Prawer, who’s a very distinguished academic at the University of Melbourne, was essentially attacked by a number of protesters who invaded his office – not physically attacked – but intimidated and threatened him, traumatised him, and it’s absolutely shocking. I am pleased the university called the police and the students on their direction did leave, but they also yelled out some shocking antisemitic slogans, accused him of being a war criminal, and this is just untenable, and in a week where the Jewish community here in Melbourne and around Australia is commemorating the horrific attack, of course, that happened on October 7 last year. This has come at a very, very difficult time and it builds further evidence, Jacqui, that the Albanese government must agree to a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities, which is the very strong position of the Coalition.
Jacqui Felgate: Okay, I also understand that they called the professor, as you said, Stephen Prawer, a physics professor well known in that part, at Melbourne Uni and throughout the industry, a “war criminal” and they also said “Zionists are genocidal maniacs” and then shared images on social media. Now, he’s in his office, some of the people that came in sat down, they were masked, and they were also wearing the keffiyeh and then chanting to end ties between the university and Israel. It just makes me feel just devastated that we’re at a place now in our society where we’ve got people coming into someone’s workplace and harassing them because they are Jewish.
Senator Henderson: Jacqui, it is absolutely shocking. They clearly only want to traumatise and inflict as much pain and suffering on Jewish academics and Jewish staff as well as Jewish students, as we’ve seen on university campuses around the country, but particularly in Melbourne and Sydney over the last 12 months. These are really distressing scenes and this is not the first time because the professor gave evidence at our Senate Inquiry into the bill to establish a commission of inquiry into antisemitism at universities. He gave evidence saying that he had previously been evacuated from his office because a group of students had identified him personally and were again invading his office. He then had a security guard placed outside his office for the next three days. That is appalling. Now, unlike the occupation of the arts west building by pro-Palestinian protesters some months ago, where I think the university’s response was extremely poor. I am very pleased that the university called the police and promptly ensured these protesters were removed, and certainly, the vice-chancellor has made some very strong statements.
Jacqui Felgate: Are these people, students? Are they people that came onto the campus? And if they are students or work at the university, will they continue to be there?
Senator Henderson: Well, that will be subject to the university’s investigation. If they are students or staff, they must be immediately expelled or terminated but the university is still trying to understand who they are, because they were all masked, which again, is absolutely appalling.
Jacqui Felgate: It is. Now, how is the professor going himself? I imagine what he’s been through and as you say, not just once, is incredibly traumatic.
Senator Henderson: I haven’t spoken to him since the incident yesterday, but I did speak to him, both in the inquiry and also afterwards privately, and he is traumatised. And many Australian Jews are traumatised by seeing what is going on in this country. Whether Jews are running businesses, or online, on university campuses, at schools, the level of antisemitism is absolutely horrific and I have to say, Jacqui, it’s very disappointing that the Prime Minister continues to talk outside…
Jacqui Felgate: So what needs to happen in this inquiry? What are the practical things that you’re calling for?
Senator Sarah Henderson: Oh, that the inquiry is essential because what we need is a “root and branch” review of university policies. We need to understand what is being taught at our universities and all sorts of issues with activism in lecture theatres and in some of the conduct of some academics. We need transformational change on our universities and a zero-tolerance approach of antisemitism. Now, some changes have occurred but it’s ad hoc and it’s not good enough, and that’s why a judicial inquiry really holding universities to account and frankly, the government for its lack of action. Because, Jacqui, let’s not forget, we saw these encampments for weeks. We saw building invasions. We saw extremists from the extreme group Hizb ut-Tahrir which is a banned terrorist organisation in other countries, we saw these members menacing students at the University of Sydney, and we saw the government doing absolutely nothing. And for months, led by Peter Dutton, the Coalition has been crying out for the government to take the strongest stand against this horrific level of antisemitism, particularly on university campuses, and it really is just not good enough, and that’s why we desperately need a judicial inquiry into this shocking spate of antisemitism on campuses.
Jacqui Felgate: Senator Sarah Henderson is the federal shadow minister for education. Senator, appreciate your time.
Senator Henderson: Thanks so much, Jacqui.