A landmark report led by Jillian Segal, Australia’s Special Envoy on Antisemitism, has proposed urgent, nationwide reforms to counter the country’s rising tide of antisemitism. The plan was developed in response to a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents since the outbreak of the Israel–Gaza conflict in late 2023, reports The Jerusalem Post.
“We have seen cars being torched, synagogues being torched, individual Jews harassed and attacked. That is completely unacceptable,” Segal said at a press conference.
The report outlines a wide-ranging strategy covering education, immigration, online platforms, and cultural institutions, aiming to “push antisemitism to the margins of society.”
Among its most notable proposals:
Universities that fail to protect Jewish students or allow antisemitism to go unchecked should lose public funding.
A “report card” system would assess whether campuses are safe for Jewish students and staff.
Grants to researchers or academics engaging in antisemitic conduct or hate speech should be withdrawn.
Cultural bodies and festivals promoting or tolerating antisemitism should also face funding cuts.
Visa applicants should be screened for antisemitic affiliations, with non-citizens facing deportation if found to be involved in antisemitism.
“The plan is an overarching one covering many areas where urgent action is needed,” said Segal, who was appointed in July 2024 following a string of antisemitic incidents, including a recent arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the report and said the government would consider implementing the recommendations: “There are a number of things that can be implemented quickly… others will require work over time,” he said, pledging collaboration with civil society at all levels.
In February, Australian universities adopted a new definition of antisemitism following consultations with Segal, but the report warns that antisemitism remains “ingrained and normalised” across academic environments.
Universities Australia, the body representing 39 universities nationwide, has not yet responded to the report. The findings place renewed pressure on the education sector to take concrete steps against anti-Jewish hate.
Photo credit: REUTERS/ALASDAIR PAL
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