This week, the royal commission into antisemitism has heard repeated accounts from Jewish university staff and students about antisemitic incidents on Australian campuses. Many have described feeling let down by their institution’s response.

Australian National University student Liat said she was regularly called a “baby killer and genocide supporter” by protesters in the wake of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

In 2024, University of Melbourne professor Steven Prawer’s office was taken over by protesters, some of them masked, due to his research partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

On Wednesday, leaders of the universities of Melbourne and Sydney and University of NSW appeared before the commission. Glyn Davis, Melbourne University interim vice chancellor, said management felt “deep despair” about antisemitic incidents occurring on campus.

How can universities better protect students and staff?

Read more: ‘Not met their duty of care’: new report finds racism is widespread at Australian unis

On Monday, the federal government announced universities will be required to adopt definitions on antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism towards Aboriginal people from next year.

They will also need to ensure “transparent complaints processes”.

This formal anti-racism standard was part of the government’s antisemitism response to the 2025 Bondi massacre. It was also recommended by the Human Rights Commission’s 2026 report on racism in universities.

In February, the commission found about 80% of surveyed Jewish students and staff said they experienced racism........

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