Shadow Minister for Education Senator Sarah Henderson has welcomed reports the Australian Research Council (ARC) has suspended an $870,000 grant awarded to Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah at Macquarie University.
“Ten months ago, I called on Minister for Education Jason Clare to cancel this grant over Dr Abdel-Fattah’s anti-Jewish activism which included encouraging children to chant terrorist slogans at a University of Sydney encampment protest,” Senator Henderson said.
“At last month’s QUT ‘anti-racism’ symposium which I argued should not have proceeded, Dr Abdel-Fattah boasted how she bent the rules of her ARC grant
“It is only after sustained pressure from the Coalition and Jewish organisations, coupled with revelations in The Australian, that Minister Clare finally asked the ARC to investigate.
“An earlier investigation by the ARC which found no wrongdoing was farcical.
“The government’s failure to act earlier speaks volumes about its weak approach to stamping out antisemitism.”
Senator Henderson said antisemitism in Australia’s universities is completely unacceptable and must be stamped out.
“Our universities should be places of respect, learning and inclusion – not hotbeds of hate,” Senator Henderson said.
“Everyone has a right to be safe on campus.
“The Albanese Government has been far too slow to respond to antisemitic hate and incitement across our university campuses.
“We need strong action to ensure Jewish students and staff feel safe and supported at all times.”
Senator Henderson renewed the Coalition’s call for the government to back a judicial inquiry into antisemitism on campus and to adopt the Coalition’s policy for a National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Antisemitism, to ensure robust policies are in place to protect Jewish students and staff
“This is about ensuring our universities remain places of academic freedom and respect, not platforms for vile antisemitic hate,” Senator Henderson said.
“Labor must show leadership, back the Coalition’s strong plan and take real action to stamp out antisemitism on campus.”
