Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has demonstrated yet again his weak leadership with Labor and the Greens blocking the Coalition’s attempt in the Senate today to vote on a bill to establish a Commission of Inquiry into anti-Semitism at Australian universities.
Shadow Minister for Education Sarah Henderson said it was beyond disappointing the Prime Minister is unable to grasp the gravity of the situation on university campuses.
“Despite being presented with an opportunity to show leadership the Prime Minister has gone missing yet again,” Senator Henderson said.
“As we have seen since 7 October 2023, the response by many Australian universities to anti-Semitism has been woefully inadequate.
“Labor even failed to listen to its own anti-Semitism Envoy, Jillian Segal AO, who says that only a judicial inquiry can adequately address the ‘endemic and systemic anti-Semitism’ which has caused such harm to Jewish students and staff.
“The government belatedly followed the Coalition’s lead on mandatory jail terms for hate crimes but sadly the Prime Minister missed this critical opportunity to address anti-Semitism on our university campuses.”
The Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Julian Leeser said that universities have been an incubator for the rising antisemitic rhetoric and that a Commission of Inquiry into anti-Semitism at Australian universities is what is desperately needed.
“Since October 7, there has been a rise in antisemitic incidents of over 700%, with many of these occurring on campus,” Mr Lesser said.
“A judicial Inquiry is crucial to ensure that the rise of antisemitism on campus in Australia can be effectively investigated and curtailed.
“The events at QUT’s so called anti-racism conference shows how deeply entrenched antisemitism is in the university sector.
“This Bill has the support of the Jewish community; the Special Envoy and it is not opposed by the university sector. It is unacceptable that the Government will not take every step possible to effectively combat this vile behaviour at our universities.”
The Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024 sought to establish a commission of inquiry, with Royal Commission-like powers, to inquire into antisemitism at Australian universities, led by a current or former Judge.
The inquiry would have examined incidents of antisemitic activity on campus both before and after 7 October 2023 and in doing so, would have considered whether the response of university leaders, regulators, representative organisation and others has been adequate.