A UNSW PhD candidate and tutor was targeted with Nazi salutes by four students during a 2024 business class for international students, according to testimony provided to the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. The evidence, heard during hearings in Melbourne this week, highlights a broader pattern of antisemitic experiences among Jewish academics and students at Australian universities.
Nazi Salutes and Campus Hostility at UNSW and ANU
The academic, identified by the pseudonym ACJ, told the royal commission that the gestures felt like a direct threat, noting that the Nazis murdered a huge proportion of his family. After ACJ reported the incident to supervisors and indicated his intent to contact police, NSW police conducted an investigation. The students involved received formal warnings and were later suspended, according to the witness.
At the Australian National University (ANU), a witness using the pseudonym Liat reported an escalation of hate following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks. Liat testified that she was called a “baby killer” and “genocide supporter” by students in a pro-Palestine encampment and lost the vast majority of her non-Jewish friends, with some explicitly stating they were no longer friends because she is a Zionist.
Did You Know? The royal commissioner, Virginia Bell AC SC, stated that some Jewish witnesses faced “ugly antisemitic attacks” after providing evidence in earlier hearings, resulting in charges and a referral to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
University Responses and Identity Erasure
Witnesses described a failure by university administrations to protect students. Liat testified to a “pattern of deflection” at ANU, claiming the university either did nothing or responded too late to reports of antisemitism and Nazi gestures, which “corrected nothing.”
A postgraduate student at a Melbourne university, testifying as ACL, described the psychological toll of campus tensions. She told the commission she stopped wearing her Magen David after October 7 to hide her identity. “Every time I went to class, I would quite literally strip myself of my Jewish identity,” she said.
ACL also reported an instance where a lecturer described a scholar as a “good Jew” specifically because that person was not a Zionist.
Legal Standards and Future Campus Regulations
Counsel assisting the royal commission, Zelie Heger SC, noted that Jewish individuals are often incorrectly assumed to hold a single position on the Middle East despite “diverse views” within the community. Heger stated that while debating the conflict is important, evidence suggests some protests have “crossed the line.”
To address these issues, Australian universities must adopt legally enforceable standards starting next year. These standards will require specific definitions for antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to combat campus discrimination.
Other individuals appearing in the hearings included Hugh de Kretser, president of the Australian Human Rights Commission; Josh Keller of the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism; and Yasmine Johnson, a co-convener of Students for Palestine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the students who performed Nazi salutes at the UNSW academic?
Following an investigation by NSW police, the students were initially issued formal warnings and subsequently suspended.
How has the royal commission described the treatment of its witnesses?
Royal commissioner Virginia Bell AC SC noted that some Jewish witnesses suffered “ugly antisemitic attacks” after giving evidence, leading to AFP referrals and charges.
What new requirements will Australian universities face next year?
Universities will be required to implement legally enforceable standards and definitions regarding antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Do you believe legally enforceable definitions of hate speech are sufficient to protect students on campus?