Antisemitism in Australia: Report Proposes Funding Cuts and Visa Screening

An Australian report on combating antisemitism recommends cutting funding for universities that fail to protect Jewish students and screening visa applicants for extremist views. The plan, led by special envoy Jillian Segal, proposes reforms across education, public institutions, online spaces, media, and immigration to tackle the rise in antisemitic incidents since Israel's war in Gaza. The government will consider Segal's recommendations, which include a "report card" system for universities and terminating funding for researchers or academics who engage in antisemitic conduct.

An Australian report on combating antisemitism, led by special envoy Jillian Segal, has recommended significant measures to tackle the rise in antisemitic incidents since Israel's war in Gaza. The report, released on July 10, 2025, proposes a sweeping set of reforms across education, public institutions, online spaces, media, and immigration.

The report, titled "The Special Envoy's Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism," highlights the need for urgent action to address the issue. Segal, who has been working on the plan since July 2024, emphasized that the situation has become "deeply troubling" with incidents such as car and synagogue torching, harassment, and attacks on Jewish individuals.

One of the key recommendations is to cut funding for universities that fail to protect Jewish students. The report proposes a "report card" system to assess the safety of Jewish students and staff on campuses. Universities that fail to act against antisemitism could face funding withholding, and public grants to researchers or academics who engage in antisemitic conduct or hate speech could be terminated.

The report also suggests screening visa applicants and non-citizens for extremist views. Non-citizens involved in antisemitism should face visa cancellation and removal from Australia. Additionally, funding for cultural bodies and festivals should be cut if they promote, facilitate, or do not effectively deal with hate or antisemitism.

The federal Labor government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, welcomed the report and said it would carefully consider and implement the recommendations. Albanese indicated that some parts of the plan could be implemented quickly, while others would require more time and work with civil society.

Segal's report also recommends adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which has been contested in some quarters for potentially conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. The report notes that the definition is contested but emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to combat antisemitism.

The report comes amidst a rise in antisemitic incidents, with Segal attributing the issue to a "stark divide" between younger and older Australians on attitudes towards the Jewish community and the existence of the state of Israel. The envoy suggests that differences in media consumption and understanding of the Holocaust contribute to this divide.

The government and civil society are expected to work together to implement the recommendations, with the goal of pushing antisemitism to the margins of society.

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/10/antisemitism-plan-envoy-jillian-segal-australian-government-ntwnfb
[2] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L1N3T702I:0-australian-antisemitism-report-proposes-university-funding-cuts-deportations/
[3] https://au.news.yahoo.com/call-scrap-uni-funding-over-023043990.html