Where AUJS stands.

The Australasian Union of Jewish Students attended the first day of evidence at the hearing block of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in Melbourne today.

Witnesses, including Australian Jewish staff and students, told the Commission that the environment on campus had become hostile towards them, and that universities had been slow to respond to overt incidents of antisemitism.

Former Australian National University student Liat spoke about how she lost friends and was subjected to antisemitic slurs.

Liat, who was called a “baby killer” and “genocide supporter” by participants in the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at ANU in 2024, told the Commission that "the majority of the people who were my friends at the time just stopped talking to me entirely," She recalled being told by a friend at a party "we’re not friends any more, you’re a Zionist".

Witness ACJ, whose identity was hidden by a pseudonym, told the Commission about his experiences as an academic at the University of New South Wales. When he complained to the university that a group of his students had made Nazi salutes at him - in his view, an act both horrific and illegal - the university refused to remove the students from his class.

“AUJS is grateful to the Commission for seeking the lived experiences of Australian Jewish students, academics and staff and giving them an opportunity to share their stories by giving evidence, The evidence shared today demonstrated time and again that university processes failed victims of virulent antisemitism and that more must be done to improve processes and procedures. All students deserve a university environment that is safe, inclusive, and free from violence and discrimination.”

The hearings continue in Melbourne tomorrow, with Suss and AUJS Chief Operating Officer Joshua Kirsh giving evidence.

An independent assessment of Australia's 38 universities has found that not one institution has adequately adopted a definition of antisemitism, the foundational requirement on which all other anti-discrimination measures depend. Conducted by Emeritus Professor Greg Craven AO and released by Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal AO on 14 May 2026, the assessment describes the failure as sector-wide and systemic.

AUJS was directly consulted as part of the assessment's evidence base. As part of that consultation, we explained to Professor Craven the human cost of that failure: ongoing intimidation on campus, complaints processes that are slow and opaque, and Jewish students and academics concealing their identity for fear of professional consequences.

We have spent years arguing that without a binding definition, complaints procedures and disciplinary frameworks have no consistent standard to measure against. Professor Craven's report confirms it. Most universities endorsed either the IHRA or Universities Australia definition in some form - but none embedded one into their policies or procedures with genuine operative effect.

The Special Envoy has written to all 38 Vice Chancellors requesting a timetable for adopting and operationalising a definition by 31 August 2026. AUJS will be closely monitoring university progress and we call on every university to treat that deadline seriously. A binding, operationalised definition is the bare minimum that Jewish students and staff are owed.

Quotes Attributable to: "Long before the recent spike in antisemitism, Jewish students have been calling for the adoption of a clear definition of antisemitism. Without this, every complaint mechanism, every policy, every training program is without substance or effect. We hope this report makes clear that this issue cannot be addressed without first agreeing on what it is." Jeremy Suss, President, AUJS

"A definition is the first step toward a campus where Jewish students are genuinely safe. If you cannot define a hatred, you cannot begin to combat it. Right now, no Australian university has taken that step and every Jewish student on campus feels the difference." Viola Bersten, Vice President, AUJS

"This report brings a hollow vindication to Jewish students who have been raising the alarm for several years. We fought for a definition because without one, universities could continue their theatre of concern while evading all accountability. This must end." Ashri Fisher, Public Affairs Coordinator, AUJS

— ENDS —

Jewish students were targeted with antisemitic slurs following an AUJS trivia night at the University of New South Wales.

When the individual in question discovered that the group was Jewish, he called students "child killers", a trope rooted in centuries of antisemitic blood libel used to dehumanise Jewish communities.

AUJS commends UNSW for its swift response to the incident and looks forward to continuing to work with the university to ensure Jewish students feel safe and welcome on campus.

Quotes attributable to Jeremy Suss, AUJS National President: "Nobody should have to weigh whether participating in everyday campus life puts them at risk of harassment or intimidation. Jewish students are tired of constantly having to look over their shoulders when planning social events.

"The allegations raised are a modern form of blood libel. AUJS will not accept a campus culture that forces Jewish students out of shared spaces and into the margins."

Quotes attributable to Viola Bersten, AUJS National Vice-President "We have seen a pattern wherein Jewish students are forced to conceal their identity just to participate in ordinary campus life, this is unacceptable.

"When a Jewish student is called a child-killer for attending a trivia night, that is not a one off. This is the product of a campus culture that has allowed antisemitism to become normalised."

Quotes attributable to Elliot Ross, AUJS UNSW President: "Jewish students belong fully and freely on every campus, in every space, at every event. We appreciate UNSW's swift response to this matter and will work diligently to make sure our security protocols continue to address these issues.

"University must be a place where Jewish life can thrive and where every student can enjoy campus life without fear." — ENDS —