Sue Smethurst

Over the past 15 months, we have witnessed scenes of antisemitism we never previously thought possible here in Australia. Today, another low was reached at a self-described “anti-racism” symposium at QUT (Queensland University of Technology). During a presentation delivered by a speaker from the Human Rights Law Centre, Jews were characterised as being hateful, racist and xenophobic – malevolently working with politicians for nefarious purposes. The presentation would not have been out of place in antisemitic gatherings throughout the ages. It contained it all - laughter as Jews were the subject of public mockery, images of Rabbis as the subject of ridicule and the baseless demonisation of a community which has done nothing to warrant such hatred. We are loathe to ever make comparisons with pre-war Germany, but these are scenes which would not have been out of place in Nazi propaganda or a 1930s Bavarian Beer Hall. The fact that this was an anti-racism training event and that the offensive speaker was from the Human Rights Law Centre is perverse and disturbing. Serious questions must be asked about whether taxpayer funds should continue to be provided to the Queensland University of Technology which facilitated this hateful forum or any other university which fails to take antisemitism seriously. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare must swiftly intervene and severely sanction the Queensland University of Technology after today’s forum of hate. If he is unwilling or unable to do so – as has been the case for the past 15 months – then the Prime Minister must himself demonstrate his commitment to stamping out antisemitism by first dealing with the Queensland University of Technology and by then addressing rampant antisemitism across the university sector.