A distinguished academic at a prominent Melbourne university has recounted a distressing incident where his office was occupied by masked protesters, prompting him to engage a private investigator to ascertain their identities. Professor Steven Prawer, an award-winning physics expert at the University of Melbourne, shared his testimony on the second day of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion's Melbourne hearings, detailing the lived experiences of Jewish Australians on university campuses.

Professor Prawer, who openly identifies as an observant Jew and Zionist, told the commission he became a target for pro-Palestinian protesters who accused him of supporting genocide in Gaza. His involvement in a research collaboration between the University of Melbourne and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, alongside comments made at a pro-Israel rally, were cited as reasons for the targeting. He firmly denied any links between his academic work and Israeli defence activities.

The incident in question occurred on October 9, 2024, when Professor Prawer arrived at the anteroom of his office in the university's physics building around 12:30 pm. He was confronted by approximately 20 masked individuals, with a Palestinian flag draped across his office door. Recalling the moment, Professor Prawer expressed his immediate fear and uncertainty. “I had no idea at that stage if it was a protest, if it was a terrorist attack,” he stated, adding that he immediately told them they were trespassing. The protesters retorted, “Israel trespasses on Palestinian lands,” leaving him speechless before he reiterated his plea for them to leave. The group proceeded to occupy his office for several hours.

Concerned that some of the protesters might not be enrolled students, and dissatisfied with the university’s subsequent investigation, Professor Prawer took the extraordinary step of hiring a private investigator. He described the university's internal inquiry as “opaque,” noting that while some students faced disciplinary action, including expulsion or suspension, between 10 and 15 of the individuals involved were never identified. He sent the private investigator's report to the University of Melbourne, only to find the institution “alarmed” by his actions and unwilling to utilise the findings.

Further compounding his disillusionment, Professor Prawer learned that some of the initial penalties handed down to students had been reduced on appeal, with the students publicly celebrating their avoided expulsion on social media. He also revealed a deeply disturbing incident from February 2025, when the words “death [to] Steven Prawer” were graffitied on a university noticeboard. Shockingly, he was not informed of this death threat for weeks, with the graffiti being removed before he was notified. This omission led him to express profound disappointment in the university, suggesting management may have sought to conceal the incident from him.

Reflecting on the broader implications, Professor Prawer drew parallels with the 2024 firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, questioning whether there might be "outside links" or a "Hamas connection" to the events at his office. Outside the hearing, he urged for a return to civility and genuine dialogue on campus. “It seems that what’s happened on campus is that if you’re pro-Palestinian, you become anti-Israel and that has affected the social cohesion of the university,” he observed. He stressed the importance of “disagreeing without being disagreeable” and lamented the lack of constructive dialogue during a week-long protest encampment at the university in 2024.

While Professor Prawer criticised the university's initial response to his complaints as "timid" and lacking "moral clarity," the institution has since acknowledged the gravity of his experiences. A university spokesperson described Professor Prawer's testimony as powerful and recognised the significant impact these events have had on him and his family. The university affirmed its ongoing support for Professor Prawer and underscored its commitment to upholding his right to pursue academic endeavours without harassment or intimidation. They stated, “As a diverse community, we stand united in our continued efforts to eradicate hate and discrimination in all forms.” The interim vice-chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis, is scheduled to appear before the commission in the coming days, with other university vice-chancellors also slated to be questioned about their responses to instances of antisemitism on their respective campuses.