All Australian universities will be required to adopt legally enforceable definitions of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 1 January 2027, under a new anti-racism standard designed to combat discrimination on campuses. The standard, published on Monday, comes as university leaders, academics, and students prepare to give evidence at the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion.
Details of the Anti-Racism Standard
The anti-racism standard is part of the federal government's antisemitism plan announced after the Bondi massacre and follows a recommendation from the Human Rights Commission's landmark Respect at Uni report. That report found racism was “systemic” on campuses, documenting incidents such as Palestinian students being mocked with shouts of “terrorism”, First Nations students being compared to “petrol sniffers” in lecture halls, and Jewish students fearing to attend class.
Under the standard, universities must adopt definitions for antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, establish a “transparent” complaints process, and issue guidance to students and staff. Institutions are allowed to use their own definitions, including for antisemitism, meaning they will not be forced to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition, which has been controversial due to concerns it could stifle criticism of Israel.
Governance Standards and Enforcement
A separate set of governance principles will also become enforceable standards, requiring public universities to publish vice-chancellor salaries, spending on consultants, and outcomes of board meetings. Compliance with both standards will be enforced by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), which can cancel a university’s registration, impose conditions on its licence, or seek fines through the courts.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare stated, “There was no place for antisemitism or any type of hate in our universities or anywhere else. Unis will have to act to prevent racism and respond when it happens.” The government plans to introduce legislation in coming months to strengthen TEQSA’s powers, which Clare described as having “a sledgehammer and a feather, but not much in between.”
Timeline and Royal Commission Hearings
The anti-racism standard applies to all universities from 1 January 2027, while governance standards take effect for public universities on the same date and for private universities from 1 July 2027. This week, university chiefs, academics, and students will testify at the royal commission’s latest hearings. Witnesses scheduled for Monday include Human Rights Commission President Hugh de Kretser and Josh Keller from the Australian Academic Alliance Against Antisemitism.
On Sunday, Clare told Sky News he anticipated “pretty horrific evidence” from Jewish students detailing abuse, intimidation, and harassment on campuses. He acknowledged that universities “were caught flat footed here” and, while some have made improvements, “there’s a lot more to do.”
Background and Context
Universities Australia adopted its own sector-wide definition of antisemitism last year, stating that criticism of the Israeli government is not necessarily antisemitic but could be if grounded in “harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions.” An audit by Emeritus Professor Greg Craven for antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal found no university was properly adopting that definition, leading to calls for stricter enforcement.
