Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to raise serious concerns that an encampment at the Australian National University has been re-established today. These encampments have fuelled so much antisemitic hate and incitement on a number of university campuses, and it is beyond belief that this has been permitted to occur again today at one of Australia's most prestigious universities. This is the same university which revoked the expulsion of a student who called for the unconditional support of Hamas. It's absolutely disgraceful. This is further evidence that a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities is critical to combating embedded systemic antisemitism on campus.

These are not my words but the words of the special envoy to combat antisemitism, Ms Jillian Segal, who late yesterday gave evidence at the Senate inquiry into my private senator's bill to establish a commission of inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities, reflecting of course the very good work of my good friend the member for Berowra, who has a private member's bill on similar terms stalling in the House of Representatives. Ms Segal has raised serious concerns that university vice-chancellors are not doing enough, and this has caused untold trauma for Jewish students and staff. That's why a judicial commission of inquiry is so important. If Senator Ayres is concerned about the Senate during its job, maybe government senators could support this very important bill.