University of Melbourne Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Nicola Phillips will today appear before a Senate Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian universities, alongside other vice-chancellors.
Professor Phillips will make the following opening remarks at the hearing:
The University of Melbourne stands against all forms of racism. We recognise that Jewish members of our community can experience particular forms of prejudice or hate and have observed an increase in antisemitism in parts of the Australian community.
Antisemitism is a societal scourge and the University of Melbourne is working hard to play our part in addressing it and to support our Jewish staff members, students, collaborators and visitors.
Our anti-racism commitment was released in January 2023, and this included adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. As part of our anti-racism commitment, in August this year we introduced an Anti-Racism Action Plan designed to prevent and respond effectively to racism, including antisemitism. This has been informed by the lived experience of our students and staff.
In managing protest activity on our campus this year, our guiding principle has been to deescalate conflict in the interests of the safety and security of all members of our community - particularly for our Jewish staff and students.
The University has drawn on its policies and procedures to guide our approach to managing protest activity, supported by careful legal advice, advice from the police, and dialogue with our staff members and students.
Certainly, we have been challenged at times in ensuring a careful balance between three obligations:
- freedom of speech, including the right to protest (which is protected by law);
- the principle of academic freedom that underpins the purpose and work of universities; and
- the right for students and staff to go about their learning and work in a safe environment.
We recognise there is more to do. We welcome working in collaboration with other institutions across the sector and the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the National Student Ombudsman and the Judicial inquiry, if the Parliament decides to proceed with it. The University is determined to eradicate antisemitism from its campuses.
In concluding my opening remarks, the responsibility to stand up against antisemitism requires continued vigilance, as does the protection of the right to freedom of speech. While this has been tested during recent protest activity, the University has sought at all times to steer a principled and compassionate path through very complex circumstances.
