Topics: Commission of Inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities
Stephen Cenatiempo: Labor has backed a Coalition move to scrutinize antisemitism on university campuses across the country. This was two months after it effectively shut down debate on a proposed judicial inquiry into the issue to talk about this, we’re joined by a Shadow Education Minister, Senator Sarah Henderson. Senator, good morning.
Senator Henderson: Stephen, a very good morning to you.
Stephen Cenatiempo: Look, I rail against the fact that we have to be talking about this because it’s a distraction from the cost-of-living crisis that most Aussies are feeling but certainly an important topic. What do you think has changed the government’s position here because that as you say, two months ago, they shut down a Bill put forward by Julian Leeser. But now what we see going ahead with this – has there been a turning point do you think?
Senator Henderson: Look, I’m not sure we’ve seen a lot of inconsistency in terms of how the government has responded to antisemitism. Frankly, Stephen, on many occasions, we’ve seen a great deal of weakness from not just the Prime Minister but also the education minister. But I am very pleased that we will at least inquire into my private senator’s Bill, which is modelled on Julian Leeser’s private member’s Bill to establish a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities. So, we will be able to call witnesses including of course, Vice Chancellors, who have frankly done a very poor job at combating antisemitism on Australian university campuses. And at least we will be able to shine a light on what has been going on and some of the terrible safety issues for students and staff at some campuses.
Stephen Cenatiempo: What do you actually try to identify here though processes or is it the source of the antisemitism? What are you looking at?
Senator Henderson: So, the Senate inquiry is actually doing an inquiry into the Bill itself. And that’s my private senator’s Bill. And that is a Bill to establish a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities. So, while of course, they are two different inquiries, at least what we will be able to do is do a lot of hard work to establish the importance of a judicial inquiry. Stephen, it’s been absolutely terrible since the attacks by Hamas in October last year. We have seen such a huge spike in antisemitism, but none more worse than on a university campuses. Things like those terrible terrorist chants, classrooms invasions, encampments, so many students, and not just Jewish students, so many students not feeling safe going to university. And we’ve now seen, for instance, after the University of Sydney, defended its encampment and basically said, `Look, this is fine. We have a right to protest’. And of course, you have a right to protest, of course, we have to support free speech, but setting up an encampment that fuels antisemitic hate and incitement and for that being allowed for so long was just really, really shocking. Universities are meant to be places of learning. They’re meant to be places of inclusiveness, where everyone feels that they can walk on campus and be safe. And that’s why the Senate inquiry is so important.
Stephen Cenatiempo: Well, that’s one of the things that’s concerned me through all of this is that our university campuses are supposed to be where our best and brightest go to exchange ideas and and learn but there’s been a degree of ignorance displayed by some of these pro-Hamas protesters. So particularly here at ANU in Canberra and obviously at the University. of Sydney as well. Are we going to hopefully, this judicial inquiry is going to look at whether a lot of this misinformation and this ignorance has been driven by the actual education process, or is it just being driven externally by the protesters, so to speak?
Senator Henderson: Well, that’s why and of course, we haven’t yet had a vote on the judicial inquiry. That’s what we are trying to get up. So this is a just an inquiry into the actual Bill itself. And hopefully, we will, of course certainly be recommending that the Parliament supports this judicial inquiry. But the Jewish students need to be able to give evidence, Jewish staff and others who have been impacted in a safe way with no reprisals. So we think an independent commission of inquiry is the right way to go. If you have a look at what they had to endure, Stephen, extremist on campus, including members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is an extremist group, and a list of terrorist organisation in the United Kingdom. The University of Sydney knew about these members being on its campus since early May and took no action to remove them. I mean, it’s really shocking and if anything else, we’ve just got to ensure that this never happens again, and that everyone at a university can feel confident that they can study and learn and, and have a really positive experience without having to endure this.
Stephen Cenatiempo: It shouldn’t be a novel idea should it? Sarah, I appreciate your time this morning.