Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities

Second reading speech Liberal Party • Senator • 25 June 2024

Henderson supports the bill, arguing that a judicial inquiry is needed because universities have been wilfully blind to antisemitism on campus and have failed to protect Jewish students and staff. She says the bill would establish a commission with Royal CommissionA very powerful public inquiry model; on this page it means the proposed commission would have strong powers to require evidence and protect witnesses. powers led by a judge to investigate those systemic failures.

“That is why we need a judicial inquiry into their systemic failures on this issue.”

Second reading speech Liberal Party • Senator • 27 June 2024

Sarah Henderson supports the bill and says a commission is needed to investigate antisemitism on university campuses and push universities and regulators to do more. She argues the existing government response is inadequate and that stronger action is needed to protect Jewish students and staff.

“But much more work needs to be done, which is why the passing of this bill is so important. Enough is enough. We must stop the antisemitic hate and incitement on university campuses. I commend this bill to the Senate.”

Second reading speech Country Liberal Party • Senator • 03 July 2024

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price supports the bill and says universities need an inquiry because antisemitism has risen sharply on campus and Jewish students are not being protected from racism and intimidation. She argues the situation should have been treated as seriously as other forms of prejudice and warns that ignoring it risks repeating dark historical patterns.

“I stand to support the Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024 (No. 2). I was brought up in a household with a parent who was a history teacher who taught me the importance of understanding not only our nation's history but also world history, because our history teaches us what we should do in order to avoid atrocities from occurring. We, as an entire world, understand what the Jewish people have endured through world history. Yet, here we are, in Australia, in 2024, where there has become a huge rise in antisemitism throughout our democratic nation and, of particular concern, in our education institutions. Universities are supposed to be a place of learning, challenge, academia and safety, where our young people can learn within an environment where everyone is treated equally and where they don't have to be subjected to racism or prejudice.”

Second reading speech Country Liberal Party • Senator • 06 Feb 2025

Price strongly supports the bill and says the government has failed to act on antisemitism, especially on university campuses. She argues a judicial inquiry is needed because it would be independent, powerful and able to hear confidential evidence from Jewish witnesses without fear of retaliation.

“The Albanese government has not done enough to combat antisemitism in this country, and that is why I wholeheartedly support this bill. We must launch an inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities because these institutions wield enormous power. They shape the thinking, the attitudes and the behaviour of the next generation, and if we don't have this inquiry then the next generation is on a fast track to learning hatred that will lead to destruction. Again, the Prime Minister has utterly failed Jews in Australia. Opposition leader Peter Dutton wrote to Mr Albanese in May last year asking that he establish this inquiry as a matter of urgency, and one has to wonder how different the situation might be if the Prime Minister had actually agreed to hold the inquiry back then.”