Joint media release
Shadow Minister for Education, Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson
Member for Berowra, Julian Leeser MP
University vice-chancellors will be required to explain their failures to combat antisemitism on university campuses in a senate inquiry bitterly opposed by the Greens.
The Coalition’s bill to establish a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities will be examined by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee, which will report by 4 October 2024.
A private member’s bill to establish a judicial inquiry was first introduced by Member for Berowra, Julian Leeser, into the House of Representatives on 3 June this year before Senator Henderson took up the fight in the Senate by introducing, in the same terms, a private senator’s bill.
“The Coalition is determined to do whatever it takes to stamp out antisemitism, in all its ugly forms, on Australian university campuses, just as we are determined to combat antisemitism across our nation,” Shadow Minister for Education, Sarah Henderson said.
“A senate inquiry will shine a light on the alarming increase in antisemitism at university campuses and demonstrate why a judicial inquiry is so important.
“This includes holding universities and the Albanese Government to account for failing to keep students and staff safe from hate and incitement, including infiltration by extremist groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir,” Senator Henderson said.
“The government’s response to campus antisemitism, a racism study by the Australian Human Rights Commission, is woefully inadequate,” Senator Henderson said.
Mr Leeser said a senate inquiry will affirm what we already know – that a judicial inquiry into antisemitism in Australian universities is needed now.
“A judicial inquiry is the only way we can begin to tackle the scourge of antisemitism that has been plaguing our universities for years,” Mr Leeser said.
“A judicial inquiry is the only way witnesses can give evidence about their experiences, free from reprisals. It’s the only way that university chancellors and vice-chancellors can be cross-examined and held to account for their failure to act at universities.
“This is so important because universities are the places where the next generation of leaders are formed. What is said and done in universities today creates the culture of Australia tomorrow,” Mr Leeser said.