Australia's Antisemitism Envoy Appoints Greg Craven to Monitor University Campuses
Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism in Australia, has appointed Greg Craven to oversee a contentious university report card system aimed at monitoring antisemitism on campuses. This decision followed an open tender process that received no bids from consulting or law firms, leading to a hand-picked selection.
Failed Tender Process Leads to Direct Appointment
Documents released under freedom of information laws reveal that Segal's office initially approached three independent consulting firms and two law firms to conduct an assessment of Australian universities' handling of antisemitism. However, all five entities declined to submit bids for the tender, reportedly due to conflicts of interest stemming from their ties to the university sector.
In response, Segal's office developed a shortlist of five individual candidates for the role. Greg Craven, a constitutional lawyer and former vice-chancellor of the Australian Catholic University, was at the top of this list. The documents indicate that he was the first to be approached, with others on the shortlist only to be contacted if he refused the offer.
Justification and Appointment Details
An assistant secretary at the Department of Home Affairs requested a "strong and well-documented business case" for appointing a specific individual to the role. Segal's chief of staff explained that the original tender, which ran for two weeks, received "no official bids," prompting a re-evaluation of the process.
The office argued that the project could be effectively delivered by a "credentialed, eminent Australian," such as retired jurists or former university vice-chancellors. They provided a list of five candidates, starting with Craven, and deemed it "inappropriate" to approach them all concurrently, opting instead to work down the list one by one.
Craven was described as the first choice due to his standing as a former university administrator and respected jurist. Three weeks later, he was offered a Commonwealth contract for the $232,466 role, with his term set to last until 30 June 2027.
Controversy Surrounding the Appointment
Greg Craven's appointment has faced criticism, particularly from the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU). Dr. Alison Barnes of the NTEU argued that Craven has "spent years using his platform to attack the very institutions and people he is now supposed to be assessing impartially."
In 2023, Craven wrote columns for News Corp's the Australian, describing Group of Eight universities as "elitist" and "greedy," and accusing them of minimizing antisemitism. After the Bondi shooting, he stated that universities had been a "major factor in making antisemitism respectful" and referred to campus protesters as "mutant radical groups."
Report Card System and Assessment Criteria
Segal devised the report card system as part of a broader plan to combat antisemitism, which includes proposals to withhold government funding from universities that "facilitate, enable or fail to act against antisemitism." The system was adopted by the Albanese government following the Bondi terror attack.
According to documents, universities will be graded on how well they "deal with" protests, encampments, and the display of flags. The assessment outlines four priority areas, including policies that "effectively address access to campus grounds and regulate outdoor protests."
Universities will also be evaluated on their responses to "all protests, encampments, and display of flags, imagery, and promotional materials within university campuses and buildings." The first set of reports was expected to be provided to universities in May.
Reactions and Future Implications
The appointment has sparked debate over impartiality and the effectiveness of the report card system. Critics argue that Craven's past comments may bias the assessment, while supporters highlight his experience and credentials.
Segal and Craven were approached for comment but have not publicly responded to the criticisms. The outcome of this appointment could significantly impact university policies and funding related to antisemitism in Australia.
