Anthony Albanese urged to scrap funding to unis failing to combat anti-Jew hate

Australian universities, educational programs and staff should have government funding scrapped if they are found to “facilitate, enable or fail to act against anti-Semitism,” a landmark report has revealed. Australia’s special envoy to combat anti-Semitism Jillian Segal, who handed down the ‘Special Envoy’s Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism’ on Thursday, said anti-Semitism had risen to “deeply troubling levels” since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Anthony Albanese said the recommendations would be “carefully” considered and “implemented quickly”. Among the key reports were a set of recommendations to combat anti-Semitism at institutions, including launching a university report card. Ms Segal will also “work with government to enable government funding to be withheld, where possible, from universities, programs or individuals within universities that facilitate, enable or fail to act against anti-Semitism”. “Working with government and grant authorities, the envoy will, where possible, establish that all public grants provided to university centres, academics or researchers can be subject to termination where the recipient engages in anti-Semitic or otherwise discriminatory or hateful speech or actions,” the report said. The report also recommended that public funding agreements for cultural institutions and festivals include clauses for the “efficient termination of funding where the institution or festival promotes, facilitates or does not deal effectively with hate or anti-Semitism”. Festivals and events that promote anti-Jewish speakers should also have their deductible gift recipient status stripped. Ms Segal said upholding consistent standards and accountability at universities and educational institutions was “central” to promoting “Australian values”. “It shapes not only what young Australians know but how they think and how they treat others,” she said. “The plan promotes a nationally consistent approach to teaching, about the history, harms and modern forms of anti-Semitism through the lens of democracy, social inclusion, shared civic responsibility in Australian values.” Asked if the recommendations would be put in place within the year, Home Affairs Minister Tony Bourke declined to issue a deadline but said some of the issues “get taken into account in different ways already” through Creative Australia. The report also called for lesson plans on Holocaust and anti-Semitism education to be integrated into both national and state curriculums and media monitoring to ensure “accurate, fair and responsible reporting” and digital guardrails, including working with eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant to ensure AI doesn’t amplify anti-Semitic content. Ms Segal also called for a review into immigration and citizenship policies to screen potential applicants for extremist and anti-Semitic views. “Visa applicants should be screened for anti-Semitic views or affiliations. Non-citizens involved in anti-Semitism should face visa cancellation and removal from Australia,” the report said. “Australia should also collaborate with international partners to share intelligence and fight anti-Semitism across borders.” The report has been welcomed by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion, who said it “completely” aligns with the “Jewish community’s expectations”. He also thanked Mr Albanese and Mr Bourke for “standing with the Jewish community”. “It is evident that much research and thought has gone into this document over many months,” he said. “Its release could not be more timely, given the recent appalling events in Melbourne. The actions which the plan call for are now urgently needed. “We call upon all sectors of society, including government, law enforcement, the media, the university sector, education authorities and online platform providers to co-operate with the special envoy and the Jewish community to give this action plan full force and effect.” Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler “particularly” backed the call to cut funding to unis who fail to act against anti-Semitism. “Some of our major universities have seen a complete dearth of leadership, notwithstanding extensive consultation with Jewish students, staff, and numerous parliamentary inquiries,” he said. “The real measure of this report will be its implementation. It is essential that these recommendations are enacted swiftly, and consistently by governments and institutions.” Sussan Ley called on Mr Albanese to act and explicitly clarify which recommendations will be adopted by the government. “This report shows anti-Semitism is not just a problem of security or law enforcement. It’s a cultural and societal cancer that needs attention through our schools, universities, media, and even the arts,” the Opposition Leader said.