Racism isn’t just a rare incident—it’s woven into the very fabric of Australian universities, and a groundbreaking report has finally exposed the shocking extent of this systemic issue. But here’s where it gets controversial: while the government has been quick to address antisemitism, other forms of racism, like anti-Palestinian sentiment and Islamophobia, have been largely ignored. So, what’s really going on here?**
A landmark study by the Australian Human Rights Commission has revealed that racism is not just prevalent but deeply entrenched in the country’s higher education system. The report, commissioned as part of the Universities Accord, paints a grim picture of students and staff facing taunts, harassment, and even physical assaults based on their race, religion, or ethnicity. For instance, Palestinian students have been mocked with cries of ‘terrorism,’ while First Nations students have been subjected to derogatory comments like being compared to ‘petrol sniffers’ in lecture halls. Jewish students, too, have faced fear and intimidation, with some being harassed for wearing religious attire or targeted with antisemitic slurs like ‘send them to the camps.’
And this is the part most people miss: the report highlights how global events amplify racism. Anti-Asian sentiment surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, First Nations students faced increased discrimination during the Voice to Parliament referendum, and the Israel-Gaza conflict sparked an unprecedented rise in antisemitism, anti-Palestinian sentiment, and Islamophobia. For example, Palestinian students were required to provide official death certificates of family members in Gaza before receiving academic extensions, while others feared deportation for expressing their views.
Of the 76,000 students and staff surveyed, a staggering 70% reported experiencing indirect racism, such as witnessing racist behavior directed at their community. Meanwhile, 15% faced direct racism, with religious Jewish and Palestinian respondents bearing the brunt (over 90%), followed by First Nations, Chinese, secular Jewish, Middle Eastern, and Northeast Asian individuals (over 80%). International students were disproportionately affected compared to their domestic counterparts.
Despite these alarming figures, only 6% of those who experienced direct racism filed complaints, often citing fear of retaliation and a lack of trust in the system. The report labels university complaint processes as ‘Kafkaesque,’ with one Aboriginal respondent being told their complaint couldn’t proceed because it was filed more than 12 months after the incident—a glaring example of systemic inefficiency.
Here’s the kicker: while the government has committed to an antisemitism taskforce following the Bondi terror attack, critics like Greens deputy leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi argue that this is a case of ‘cherrypicking one type of racism over others.’ Faruqi points out that anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia have been largely dismissed, even amid Israel’s actions in Gaza. ‘The government can no longer refuse to accept this reality,’ she asserts.
The report’s 47 recommendations include a national framework for antiracism in tertiary education, led by a dedicated working group, and mandatory regular reporting of complaints. However, only 11 universities have advanced, standalone antiracism strategies, and just one regularly reports on their efforts. Education Minister Jason Clare has pledged to ‘consider’ these recommendations as part of broader higher education reforms, but will it be enough?
Universities Australia has called the findings ‘deeply troubling’ and endorsed the need for ‘sector-wide action.’ Meanwhile, student leaders like National Union of Students President Felix Hughes emphasize that voluntary policies and internal reviews have failed to bring about meaningful change. ‘The federal government must act now to ensure consistent protections and reporting systems across all universities,’ Hughes urges.
But here’s the question that lingers: If racism is so systemic, why has it taken this long for action to be considered? And why are some forms of racism prioritized over others? The report is a wake-up call, but it’s also a challenge—to universities, to policymakers, and to all of us. What do you think? Is enough being done to tackle racism in Australian universities, or is this just the tip of the iceberg? Let’s start the conversation.
