Opening statement at public hearing into antisemitism at Australian universities

Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Mark Scott's opening statement

Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today.

Since the horrific attacks of October 7 and through the ongoing and harrowing war in Gaza, universities around the world have grappled with the impact of these disruptive events on their students and staff, and the distress triggered across university communities by passionately held oppositional views.

As I have said in previous hearings before parliament, at the University of Sydney, we did not get everything right and there are clearly differing views on our responses to certain events, particularly the encampment earlier this year.

What we have committed to do is to learn from these hugely challenging and complex events – and the experiences of other universities around the world – and to listen to those who would work with us to ensure our campuses are safe and welcoming for all.

To that end, we have already made a significant number of changes to our policies, procedures and practices. Those changes have a particular focus on addressing antisemitism and the experiences of our Jewish students and staff and, in addressing cultural bias of every kind, we believe they benefit the whole university community.

The independent review of our policies and processes by Bruce Hodgkinson AM SC, released this week, endorses some of the key actions already underway, including:

• our new Campus Access Policy, which puts strict guidelines around planned protests and bans camping and protests in any University building; also
• the considered overhaul of our complaints systems; and
• the review of relevant university policies to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and easy to understand.

Among other changes, we have also increased campus security measures and improved our responsiveness to concerns, such as offensive posters and graffiti.

Mr Hodgkinson has provided further practical suggestions to increase transparency, particularly to improve public confidence in our complaints and disciplinary procedures, and to enhance civility on campus. This includes a new rule that would put the onus on any speaker using university facilities to make the meaning of contested words and phrases clear to the audience.

I would welcome the opportunity to go into the Hodgkinson findings and recommendations in more detail today but, as you will have heard this week, our Senate has accepted all 15 recommendations in principle, and has charged me and the University Executive with designing a blueprint for consulting on and delivering them.

Together with the considerable work already underway, the Hodgkinson report provides us with a clear roadmap for ensuring a safe and welcoming campus for all students and staff, while at the same time safeguarding our commitment to free speech and academic freedom. We are determined to do whatever is necessary to achieve that balance. On university campuses, as in the wider community, the fight against antisemitism – and all forms of discrimination – must never stop.