Today in Senate estimates, Assistant Minister for Education, Anthony Chisholm, confirmed the Albanese Government would not support a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at universities.
This is extremely disappointing and demonstrates the government’s weak leadership in combating the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents on university campuses.
The government’s racism study, to be conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission, is woefully inadequate. The Commission’s failures include not taking action against an employee for grossly offensive anti-Jewish statements. It is unfit to conduct this work.
Today’s estimates hearing also revealed it took the university regulator, TEQSA, eight months to write to universities about their obligations to keep students safe following the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack.
This is too little, too late, from Labor’s hapless Education Minister, Jason Clare.
On too many occasions, Jason Clare has failed to speak out and take action over serious failings by universities including on terrorist slogans and encampments which are fuelling so much hate and incitement towards Jewish students.
It is time this minister stepped up and adopted a zero-tolerance of antisemitism in every educational institution.