Australia's peak tertiary education standards body proactively warned universities about the risks posed by "aggressive" and "violent behaviour" from individuals infiltrating pro-Palestinian campus protests. This urgent communication highlighted concerns about the safety and integrity of university environments amidst escalating tensions.

An ongoing national inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion has been told that university vice-chancellors expressed significant apprehension regarding antisemitic conduct at protest encampments earlier this year, grappling with how to peacefully resolve these complex situations.

External Elements Fuel Campus Tensions

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) took the unprecedented step of writing to universities, suggesting practical measures to prevent non-students, staff, or immediate tertiary community members from accessing campuses. These recommendations included implementing identification checks and, when necessary, involving law enforcement.

TEQSA Chief Executive Mary Russell provided testimony, noting that university campuses, particularly those in inner-city areas, frequently become focal points for broader community demonstrations. "There were instances where there were marches, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, with the destination of the university campus," Ms Russell stated. She further elaborated on cases where external individuals appeared to intentionally bring a more aggressive and violent dynamic to existing student-led protests and encampments.

According to Ms Russell, initial student-only protests often fostered an environment for discourse and the exchange of ideas. However, "the intrusion of outside actors typically saw an end to that and saw much more heated, aggressive and, I think most importantly, very personalised expressions of protests and ideas, particularly personalised against Jewish students on campus and staff," she explained.

Normally, TEQSA waits for direct, detailed concerns before intervening. However, Ms Russell testified that numerous media reports and third-party accounts detailing escalating behaviours signalled a clear and immediate risk. This compelled the agency to adopt a proactive stance, influencing education providers to enhance their preventative and responsive measures.

Defining Antisemitism and Strengthening Police Ties

A significant challenge highlighted during the inquiry is universities' reluctance to definitively classify what constitutes antisemitism. The regulator is now moving to issue a statement of regulatory expectation to provide urgent clarity on these definitions.

Dr. Alan Finkel, Chair of the Group of Eight expert advisory committee, acknowledged that universities have made strides in improving their practices. However, he stressed the critical need for institutions to adopt and "operationalise" a clear definition of antisemitism. This definition, he argued, should be integrated into codes of conduct, serving as both a reference point and a tool for educational training. Dr. Finkel specifically endorsed the definition proposed by Universities Australia, citing its clarity and ease of implementation.

Dr. Finkel also underscored the importance of robust complaint triaging systems to identify and escalate serious incidents appropriately. He highlighted the necessity for universities to cultivate strong, pre-existing relationships with police forces, particularly when dealing with campus protests. "It's always difficult because you don't want a police presence on campus but you don't want to delay police presence if there is a significant risk of violence or to incite violence," he advised, noting that established communication channels with police chief commissioners made emergency calls much more efficient.

The inquiry also addressed the complexities of social media, particularly publicly accessible accounts of lecturers followed by students, where the boundaries between academic freedom and freedom of speech often blur. Dr. Finkel acknowledged this as a rapidly evolving and challenging area for universities. He advocated for in-person training on racism for students in leadership roles, while suggesting online modules could suffice for other students.

Education and Understanding Critical to Social Cohesion

Professor David Slucki from Monash University told the inquiry about the profound importance of Holocaust teachings in combating antisemitism. Professor Slucki, who established the Monash Initiative for Rapid Research into Antisemitism (MIRRA), aims to deepen understanding of antisemitism in Australia and devise effective countermeasures.

A training program developed from MIRRA's research has already reached approximately 17,000 executive leaders and frontline university staff across 17 institutions. Professor Slucki emphasized the community's need for a basic understanding of Jewish Australians. "If you can't understand that, you can't understand what lies at the heart of people's anger and angst," he explained, pointing to the impact of generational trauma and how the Holocaust shapes Jewish identity.

He also delved into the nuanced complexities of Zionism and anti-Zionism, stressing that these terms are far from simplistic. Professor Slucki highlighted the importance of teaching conflicting and contesting narratives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, recognising the pain and fear on both sides as a crucial starting point for understanding.

Professor Slucki conveyed his belief that most Jewish Australians desire a two-state solution, a position he intends to explore further in an upcoming survey. He advocated for respectful conversations, stressing that clear definitions of academic freedom and freedom of speech are vital. "When we disagree with someone we see them as wrong or bad and evil and that's the kind of thing we want to start pulling Australian people away from," he concluded, urging a departure from judgmental attitudes in public discourse.