New anti-racism standard will force Australian universities to use definitions of antisemitism and Islamophobia | Australian universities

Australian universities will be required to adopt definitions of antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from next year under a legally enforceable standard designed to eliminate discrimination on campuses.

Details of the anti-racism standard will be published on Monday as university bosses, students and academics prepare to take part in a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion.

A separate set of governance principles would also become enforceable standards, including a requirement for public universities to publish the salaries of vice-chancellors, expenses on consultants and the results of board meetings.

Introduction of an official anti-racist standard, antisemitism plan a recommendation from the federal government’s landmark Human Rights Commission report into racism in Australian universities, released after the Bondi massacre.

The Respect at University report found racism was “systemic” on campuses, finding that Palestinian students were taunted with shouts of “terrorism”, First Nations students were compared to “gasoline sniffers” in lecture halls, and Jewish students were afraid to attend classes.

Under the standard, universities will be required to adopt a definition of antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, establish a “transparent” complaints process and publish guidance for students and staff.

Universities are allowed to use their own definitions, including antisemitism, meaning institutions will not be forced to adopt that definition. International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition.

IHRA definition It is controversial due to concerns that it could be used to silence criticism of the state of Israel.

Universities Australia Last year, it adopted its own industry-wide definition of antisemitism, which states that criticism of the Israeli government is not necessarily antisemitic, but can be if it is based on “harmful tropes, stereotypes, or assumptions.”

In the audit carried out by honorary professor Greg Craven on behalf of anti-Semitism ambassador Jillian Segal, it was revealed that there was no university. to adopt properly The definition spurs calls for tougher enforcement.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said there was “no place for antisemitism or any form of hatred in our universities or anywhere else”.

“Unis will need to take action to prevent racism and respond when it happens,” Clare said.

Compliance with the new standards will be enforced by the Higher Education Quality and Standards Authority, which has the power to cancel a university’s registration, impose conditions on its license and seek fines through the courts.

The government plans to introduce legislation to strengthen the regulator’s powers in the coming months. Clare argued that it was “a sledgehammer and a feather, but not much in between.”

From January 1, 2027, all universities will be required to adopt the anti-racism standard. The management standards will apply to public universities from 1 January 2027 and to private universities from 1 July 2027.

Universities’ fight against antisemitism on their campuses will be put under the spotlight this week as higher education chiefs, academics and students testify at the latest royal commission hearings.

Human Rights Commission chair Hugh de Krester and Josh Keller of the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism are among the witnesses scheduled to testify at Monday’s hearing.

On Sunday, Clare told Sky News she expected “some pretty horrific evidence” detailing the abuse, intimidation and harassment suffered by Jewish students on campuses.

“Universities have been caught flat-footed here, and to be fair to universities, some have made significant progress in the last few years – but not enough,” he said.

“There’s still a lot to do.”