Julian Leeser urges inquiry into antisemitism on campuses
An inquiry with royal commission-like powers would investigate reports of rising levels of antisemitism at Australian universities under an opposition proposal.
Julian Leeser
Liberal MP Julian Leeser, who brought forward laws in federal parliament to set up an inquiry, said vice-chancellors and university leaders were not doing enough to stamp out anti-Semitism on campuses.
Mr Leeser, who is Jewish, said the rise in anti-Semitic incidents was alarming.
He said: “Australia faces its greatest threat to multiculturalism with the emergence of anti-Semitism, in particular, the studied indifference to Jew-hatred on our campuses,” he told parliament on Monday.
Young Jewish Australians who are taking their first steps in the adult world are facing unprecedented levels of anti-Semitism.”
The proposed inquiry would have powers similar to a royal commission in compelling witnesses to give evidence.
It would examine universities’ policies and enforcement efforts in combating anti-Semitism, as well as the complaint-handling process and security arrangements.
However, because of the legislation being introduced as a private member bill in parliament, it is unlikely to be brought forward for further debate.
Mr Leeser said the incidence of anti-Semitism had risen following the October 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel, which had led to an escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Israel launched air strikes and a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip in response.
Pro-Palestinian camps have been set up on many campuses following the October attacks, which Mr Leeser criticised.
“Now we see vice-chancellors negotiating research contracts with protesters, university encampments allowed to run and fester, universities unwilling, unable to evict professional agitators,” he said.
“While anti-Semitism was already a problem before October 7, since that time, it’s been off the charts.”
The federal government announced in May an inquiry by the Australian Human Rights Commission into anti-Semitism on campuses, along with Islamophobia and racism in the university sector.
An interim report is expected to be handed down by December 31.
But Mr Leeser said many in the Jewish community had no faith in the commission’s probe.
“The government’s proposal for an inquiry led by the Human Rights Commission into various forms of racism on campus is woefully inadequate,” he said.
“The AHRC has proven itself to be unready and unwilling to respond to anti-Semitism in Australia.”
AIJAC Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein said, “Given the explosion of antisemitism, in Australia and around the world, since October 7 of last year, and the way extremist protestors have made most Australian university campuses inhospitable to Jewish students in recent months, Julian Leeser’s bill calling for an inquiry into the phenomenon is more than timely – it is essential.
“The Government has previously appeared to acknowledge the need for something along the lines of what Mr. Leeser is proposing, raising the idea of such an inquiry into antisemitism on campus earlier this year. Unfortunately, what resulted from this government initiative was not fit for purpose – a Human Rights Commission inquiry into all forms of racism on campus that the Commission says will primarily focus on the plight of Indigenous Australians, and will take at least two years.”
“Mr. Leeser is to be commended for putting forward a proposal for an inquiry that actually does meet the urgent needs of Jewish students and will help protect the integrity of higher education – one focussed on antisemitism specifically, headed by a judge with all the powers of a royal commission, and with a much shorter time-frame for reporting. Given the horror stories we constantly hear about the harassment of Jewish students at universities, and given that the Prime Minister himself has acknowledged that antisemitism is today being expressed more openly than at any other point in his lifetime, AIJAC calls on all sides of parliament to support the timely and highly necessary bill Mr. Leeser put forward yesterday,” Dr. Rubenstein concluded.
AAP with J-Wire
