Australian universities that are judged to have failed to take sufficient action against antisemitism could have their government funding withheld.

The country¡¯s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has unveiled a sweeping plan addressing anti-Jewish hate in higher education, the media and the visa system, warning that it had become ¡°normalised¡± and posed a serious threat to Jewish Australians.

Segal plans to launch a ¡°university report card¡± grading campuses on their efforts to combat hate speech and protect Jewish students and staff.

She will work with government departments and grant authorities to ensure public funding can be withdrawn from individual researchers, centres or programmes where antisemitic behaviour is left unchecked.

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¡°If significant problems remain by the 2026 academic year, a judicial inquiry into campus antisemitism and its sources of funding will be commissioned,¡± Segal said.

Beyond universities, the plan outlines broad institutional reforms. Visa applicants will be screened for antisemitic views, while media outlets will be monitored to promote fair and accurate coverage of antisemitism and Jewish Australians.

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¡°We cannot hope to really abolish antisemitism, but we can push it to the margins,¡± Segal said at the plan¡¯s launch.

¡°This is a long-term, whole-of-society effort. Jewish Australians should not have to fear for their safety when they walk into a campus, a synagogue or a restaurant.¡±

Prime minister Anthony Albanese welcomed Ms Segal¡¯s 20-page report and said it would now be considered by the government.

The crackdown follows an alarming rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia over the past year.

Between October 2023 and September 2024, antisemitic attacks surged 316 per cent, with more than 2,000 cases reported nationwide.

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Segal said these incidents had dramatically escalated following the 7 October Hamas terror attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.

Under her plan, universities will be expected to adopt a practical definition of antisemitism, embed it in their codes of conduct, and report transparently on complaints and disciplinary actions.

The report warns that if universities fail to act meaningfully, a commission of inquiry will investigate not only systemic failures but the possible role of foreign funding in enabling antisemitic activities within higher education.

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University leaders have responded cautiously to the proposals.

Emma Johnston, the University of Melbourne¡¯s vice-chancellor, said the institution remained committed to tackling all forms of racism, including antisemitism.

¡°We recognise Jewish members of our community experience particular forms of prejudice or hate which constrain their freedom to live, work, study, worship and identify as Jewish in Australian society,¡± Johnston said.

She outlined actions already under way at Melbourne, including the publication of an annual report on racism, training on antisemitism for leadership and safety teams, and improved systems for reporting and addressing racist incidents on campus.

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tash.mosheim@timeshighereducation.com