Plan to rid anti-Jew 'cancer' targets uni, arts funding
Following a surge in threats and violence against Jewish Australians, the federal government has welcomed anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal's sweeping report, which put public funding at the front and centre of its recommendations.
It found Jewish students were subject to discrimination, particularly at higher education campuses, and has urged the federal government to withhold money from universities, programs or academics that facilitate, enable or fail to act against anti-Semitism.
Public grants could also be terminated if recipients engaged in "anti-Semitic or otherwise discriminatory or hateful speech or actions", the report said.
"The plan supports the safety, visibility and contribution of Australia's Jewish communities, so that no Australian feels the need to hide who they are," Ms Segal told reporters in Sydney as she delivered her findings.
Mr Albanese said Labor would work constructively with Ms Segal and review the recommendations, although he did not commit to implementing the measures.
About 60 per cent of Australian Jewish students who experienced anti-Semitism in 2024 felt unsupported by their institutions, according to a survey by the Australian Union of Jewish Students.
This push to ensure public funding "is not used to support or implicitly endorse anti-Semitic themes or narratives" could also put cultural institutions and broadcasters at risk.
The report suggests all public funding agreements with festivals or cultural institutions include terms to allow for the termination of funding when they promote, facilitate or fail to effectively deal with hate or anti-Semitism.
Anyone hoping to get an Australian visa should also be subject to screening for anti-Semitic views or affiliations and those found to have been involved would face visa cancellation and deportation under the recommendations.
There are some concerns the plan could stifle legitimate criticism of Israel, whose violence in Gaza - following the October 7 attack on Israelis by Hamas - has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians.
A slew of Australian arts bodies, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the State Library of Australia and Creative Australia, had already revoked opportunities from artists who had been outspoken critics of Israel.
The report also recommended higher education institutions and all levels of government adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's controversial definition of anti-Semitism, which has been decried for conflating criticism of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism.
When asked about the concerns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said people had a right to their perspectives but did not have a right to bring conflict to Australia.
"Whatever your view on the Middle East, it is not advanced by attacking people here in Australia because of who they are, because of their faith, because of their identity - it's completely unacceptable," he told reporters in Sydney.
The progressive Jewish Council of Australia raised concerns the report's "dangerously unclear" recommendations risked censoring criticism of Israel, deepening racism and failing to to address the root causes of anti-Semitism.
"This document reads more like a blueprint for silencing dissent rather than a strategy to build inclusion," executive officer Max Kaiser said.
Other groups including the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry backed its findings and called for their urgent implementation.
"This is a very well-considered plan," the council's president Daniel Aghion said.
Ms Segal's report has been in the works since her July 2024 appointment but the issue of anti-Semitism returned to the fore after an East Melbourne synagogue was set alight on Friday night.
There has been a 300 per cent rise in threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians between October 2023 and September 2024.
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley urged Mr Albanese to act on Ms Segal's recommendations and called anti-Semitism a "cultural and societal cancer".
Australia's universities and cultural institutions are at risk of losing their funding while immigrants face deportation under a wide-ranging plan to address anti-Semitism.
Following a surge in threats and violence against Jewish Australians, the federal government has welcomed anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal's sweeping report, which put public funding at the front and centre of its recommendations.
It found Jewish students were subject to discrimination, particularly at higher education campuses, and has urged the federal government to withhold money from universities, programs or academics that facilitate, enable or fail to act against anti-Semitism.
Public grants could also be terminated if recipients engaged in "anti-Semitic or otherwise discriminatory or hateful speech or actions", the report said.
"The plan supports the safety, visibility and contribution of Australia's Jewish communities, so that no Australian feels the need to hide who they are," Ms Segal told reporters in Sydney as she delivered her findings.
Mr Albanese said Labor would work constructively with Ms Segal and review the recommendations, although he did not commit to implementing the measures.
About 60 per cent of Australian Jewish students who experienced anti-Semitism in 2024 felt unsupported by their institutions, according to a survey by the Australian Union of Jewish Students.
This push to ensure public funding "is not used to support or implicitly endorse anti-Semitic themes or narratives" could also put cultural institutions and broadcasters at risk.
The report suggests all public funding agreements with festivals or cultural institutions include terms to allow for the termination of funding when they promote, facilitate or fail to effectively deal with hate or anti-Semitism.
Anyone hoping to get an Australian visa should also be subject to screening for anti-Semitic views or affiliations and those found to have been involved would face visa cancellation and deportation under the recommendations.
There are some concerns the plan could stifle legitimate criticism of Israel, whose violence in Gaza - following the October 7 attack on Israelis by Hamas - has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians.
A slew of Australian arts bodies, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the State Library of Australia and Creative Australia, had already revoked opportunities from artists who had been outspoken critics of Israel.
The report also recommended higher education institutions and all levels of government adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's controversial definition of anti-Semitism, which has been decried for conflating criticism of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism.
When asked about the concerns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said people had a right to their perspectives but did not have a right to bring conflict to Australia.
"Whatever your view on the Middle East, it is not advanced by attacking people here in Australia because of who they are, because of their faith, because of their identity - it's completely unacceptable," he told reporters in Sydney.
The progressive Jewish Council of Australia raised concerns the report's "dangerously unclear" recommendations risked censoring criticism of Israel, deepening racism and failing to to address the root causes of anti-Semitism.
"This document reads more like a blueprint for silencing dissent rather than a strategy to build inclusion," executive officer Max Kaiser said.
Other groups including the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry backed its findings and called for their urgent implementation.
"This is a very well-considered plan," the council's president Daniel Aghion said.
Ms Segal's report has been in the works since her July 2024 appointment but the issue of anti-Semitism returned to the fore after an East Melbourne synagogue was set alight on Friday night.
There has been a 300 per cent rise in threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians between October 2023 and September 2024.
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley urged Mr Albanese to act on Ms Segal's recommendations and called anti-Semitism a "cultural and societal cancer".
Australia's universities and cultural institutions are at risk of losing their funding while immigrants face deportation under a wide-ranging plan to address anti-Semitism.
Following a surge in threats and violence against Jewish Australians, the federal government has welcomed anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal's sweeping report, which put public funding at the front and centre of its recommendations.
It found Jewish students were subject to discrimination, particularly at higher education campuses, and has urged the federal government to withhold money from universities, programs or academics that facilitate, enable or fail to act against anti-Semitism.
Public grants could also be terminated if recipients engaged in "anti-Semitic or otherwise discriminatory or hateful speech or actions", the report said.
"The plan supports the safety, visibility and contribution of Australia's Jewish communities, so that no Australian feels the need to hide who they are," Ms Segal told reporters in Sydney as she delivered her findings.
Mr Albanese said Labor would work constructively with Ms Segal and review the recommendations, although he did not commit to implementing the measures.
About 60 per cent of Australian Jewish students who experienced anti-Semitism in 2024 felt unsupported by their institutions, according to a survey by the Australian Union of Jewish Students.
This push to ensure public funding "is not used to support or implicitly endorse anti-Semitic themes or narratives" could also put cultural institutions and broadcasters at risk.
The report suggests all public funding agreements with festivals or cultural institutions include terms to allow for the termination of funding when they promote, facilitate or fail to effectively deal with hate or anti-Semitism.
Anyone hoping to get an Australian visa should also be subject to screening for anti-Semitic views or affiliations and those found to have been involved would face visa cancellation and deportation under the recommendations.
There are some concerns the plan could stifle legitimate criticism of Israel, whose violence in Gaza - following the October 7 attack on Israelis by Hamas - has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians.
A slew of Australian arts bodies, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the State Library of Australia and Creative Australia, had already revoked opportunities from artists who had been outspoken critics of Israel.
The report also recommended higher education institutions and all levels of government adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's controversial definition of anti-Semitism, which has been decried for conflating criticism of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism.
When asked about the concerns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said people had a right to their perspectives but did not have a right to bring conflict to Australia.
"Whatever your view on the Middle East, it is not advanced by attacking people here in Australia because of who they are, because of their faith, because of their identity - it's completely unacceptable," he told reporters in Sydney.
The progressive Jewish Council of Australia raised concerns the report's "dangerously unclear" recommendations risked censoring criticism of Israel, deepening racism and failing to to address the root causes of anti-Semitism.
"This document reads more like a blueprint for silencing dissent rather than a strategy to build inclusion," executive officer Max Kaiser said.
Other groups including the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry backed its findings and called for their urgent implementation.
"This is a very well-considered plan," the council's president Daniel Aghion said.
Ms Segal's report has been in the works since her July 2024 appointment but the issue of anti-Semitism returned to the fore after an East Melbourne synagogue was set alight on Friday night.
There has been a 300 per cent rise in threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians between October 2023 and September 2024.
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley urged Mr Albanese to act on Ms Segal's recommendations and called anti-Semitism a "cultural and societal cancer".
Australia's universities and cultural institutions are at risk of losing their funding while immigrants face deportation under a wide-ranging plan to address anti-Semitism.
Following a surge in threats and violence against Jewish Australians, the federal government has welcomed anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal's sweeping report, which put public funding at the front and centre of its recommendations.
It found Jewish students were subject to discrimination, particularly at higher education campuses, and has urged the federal government to withhold money from universities, programs or academics that facilitate, enable or fail to act against anti-Semitism.
Public grants could also be terminated if recipients engaged in "anti-Semitic or otherwise discriminatory or hateful speech or actions", the report said.
"The plan supports the safety, visibility and contribution of Australia's Jewish communities, so that no Australian feels the need to hide who they are," Ms Segal told reporters in Sydney as she delivered her findings.
Mr Albanese said Labor would work constructively with Ms Segal and review the recommendations, although he did not commit to implementing the measures.
About 60 per cent of Australian Jewish students who experienced anti-Semitism in 2024 felt unsupported by their institutions, according to a survey by the Australian Union of Jewish Students.
This push to ensure public funding "is not used to support or implicitly endorse anti-Semitic themes or narratives" could also put cultural institutions and broadcasters at risk.
The report suggests all public funding agreements with festivals or cultural institutions include terms to allow for the termination of funding when they promote, facilitate or fail to effectively deal with hate or anti-Semitism.
Anyone hoping to get an Australian visa should also be subject to screening for anti-Semitic views or affiliations and those found to have been involved would face visa cancellation and deportation under the recommendations.
There are some concerns the plan could stifle legitimate criticism of Israel, whose violence in Gaza - following the October 7 attack on Israelis by Hamas - has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians.
A slew of Australian arts bodies, including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the State Library of Australia and Creative Australia, had already revoked opportunities from artists who had been outspoken critics of Israel.
The report also recommended higher education institutions and all levels of government adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's controversial definition of anti-Semitism, which has been decried for conflating criticism of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism.
When asked about the concerns, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said people had a right to their perspectives but did not have a right to bring conflict to Australia.
"Whatever your view on the Middle East, it is not advanced by attacking people here in Australia because of who they are, because of their faith, because of their identity - it's completely unacceptable," he told reporters in Sydney.
The progressive Jewish Council of Australia raised concerns the report's "dangerously unclear" recommendations risked censoring criticism of Israel, deepening racism and failing to to address the root causes of anti-Semitism.
"This document reads more like a blueprint for silencing dissent rather than a strategy to build inclusion," executive officer Max Kaiser said.
Other groups including the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry backed its findings and called for their urgent implementation.
"This is a very well-considered plan," the council's president Daniel Aghion said.
Ms Segal's report has been in the works since her July 2024 appointment but the issue of anti-Semitism returned to the fore after an East Melbourne synagogue was set alight on Friday night.
There has been a 300 per cent rise in threats, vandalism and physical violence against Jewish Australians between October 2023 and September 2024.
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley urged Mr Albanese to act on Ms Segal's recommendations and called anti-Semitism a "cultural and societal cancer".
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9 News
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Hamas agrees to new ceasefire proposal as mediators push Israel to renew talks
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Hamas says it has agreed to a new Gaza ceasefire proposal as mediators from Qatar and Egypt push to renew talks ahead of a major Israeli assault on Gaza City. In a statement, Hamas said it had accepted the new proposal presented on Sunday by Qatar and Egypt. Basem Naim, a senior member of Hamas' political bureau, said on social media, "The movement has accepted the new proposal from the mediators. We pray that God extinguishes the fires of this war on our people." Hamas says it has agreed to a ceasefire agreement which would end the conflict in Gaza. (CNN) Two Israeli officials told CNN that Israel had received the Hamas response from mediators. One of the Israeli officials said that the government's position had not changed, which includes calling for the release of all the hostages, the disarmament of Hamas, and Israeli security control of the besieged territory. The proposal marks a renewed effort from mediators to restart negotiations that fell apart in July, extinguishing what had been the best hopes to stop the fighting in months. It also dashed chances of an imminent end to the war, and Israel's security cabinet recently voted to escalate the conflict and occupy Gaza City. The newly approved operation increased pressure on mediators to renew talks and secure a deal in an attempt to avert an even worse humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The new proposal adheres closely to the last ceasefire plan discussed before negotiations fell apart last month. A senior Hamas official told CNN the proposal calls for the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages. The hostages will be released in exchange for 140 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 60 serving sentences of more than 15 years. Israel will also release all Palestinian minors and female prisoners, the official said. According to a diplomat briefed on the negotiations, Qatari and Egyptian mediators secured a breakthrough that preserves 98% of the last proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff, to which Israel had previously agreed. The mediators put pressure on Hamas to accept the proposal. The latest ceasefire talsk ended in failure and led to the resumption of fighting in the region. (AP) The proposal entails a ceasefire during which Israeli forces redeploy to the lines specified in the Witkoff proposal, while humanitarian aid flows intensively to meet the basic needs of the population in Gaza. This step opens the way to reaching a comprehensive agreement in the best possible manner without endangering the lives of the hostages through further intense military operations and avoiding a worsening of the humanitarian situation for the people of Gaza, who are already suffering greatly, the diplomat said. It also marks the beginning of the road to a comprehensive solution, the diplomat added. A regional source involved in the Gaza talks told CNN that Hamas "insists" on "written American guarantees" for a ceasefire "after 60 days." Hamas wants the US to ensure that Israel does not return to war, the source told CNN. The most recent ceasefire negotiations, which fell apart in July, focused on a 60-day ceasefire and the release of approximately half of the remaining 50 hostages. A second diplomat involved in the negotiations said, "Given the developments, Egypt and Qatar will extend an invitation to Steve Witkoff to come to Cairo." Qatari Prime Minister and minister of foreign affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani arrived in Egypt for discussions about ceasefire negotiations, Egyptian officials said. Qatari officials met with Witkoff last weekend in Spain. Prior to talks collapsing in July, the most difficult issues in the negotiations included the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for the hostages, the size of the Israeli buffer zone around Gaza, and the scope of the Israeli withdrawal during the ceasefire. Hamas also demanded a comprehensive end to the war, which Israel has refused. The US and Israel indicated they would harden their positions, only accepting a comprehensive deal instead of a partial agreement, when the last round of negotiations failed. On Monday, US President Donald Trump said on social media, "We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday evening, "Like you, I hear the reports in the media – and from them, one thing is clear: Hamas is under immense pressure." He did not say whether he would consider a new proposal after insisting that Israel would only agree to a comprehensive deal that achieved his maximalist positions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure by some members of his government to take a hardline approach. (AP) He has said that any agreement needs to include the disarmament of Hamas, which has been a red line for the militant organisation. This fresh proposal comes after hundreds of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv and across the country on Sunday, demanding that Israel agree to a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages and end the war. In a series of events that lasted all day, protesters blocked major intersections across the country, carried out a grassroots strike, and held a massive rally in Hostages Square. Netanyahu's far-right allies, who have demanded an escalation of the war, warned the Israeli premier about accepting a ceasefire deal. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a recorded video: "Mr. Prime Minister, I'll make this short and simple: you do not have a mandate to go for a partial deal. The blood of our soldiers is not to be disregarded. We must go all the way — to destroy Hamas." Ben Gvir quit the government over the last ceasefire in January before rejoining when Israel resumed the war two months later. But opposition politicians immediately threw their weight behind Netanyahu and behind the latest ceasefire effort. Benny Gantz has expressed support for a ceasefire, a view now reflected by many in Israel. (AP) Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who chairs the Blue and White Party, said in a statement, "The government has a clear majority and a broad safety net to bring the hostages home. Netanyahu, this is not a time to hesitate — this is a time to make the right decisions for the people of Israel and the security of Israel." There have been two ceasefires and hostage-release deals in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks. In November 2023, a weeklong ceasefire saw 105 hostages freed from Gaza and around 240 Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli prisons before it collapsed. A second ceasefire was not struck until January 2025. In just over 8 weeks – the first "phase" of the ceasefire – Hamas freed 33 hostages, with Israel releasing around 50 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli freed. Under the planned second stage, Israel was supposed to agree to a permanent ceasefire. But Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, shattering the truce and derailing the talks, saying it did so to put pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages. World Israel Israel Hamas Conflict Palestine Gaza War Politics USA CONTACT US
Sky News AU
11 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Economic roundtable risks being ‘detrimental to productivity', Warren Hogan warns, with carbon price, cashflow tax on agenda
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'The shift to the cashflow tax rewards investment by allowing businesses to expense their capital expenditure in the year that it occurs. It will promote investment among newer and smaller firms, allowing them to grow and challenge incumbents,' Ms Wood said. Ms Wood also argued a carbon price was still the most efficient way to reduce emissions. This follows emissions trading scheme architect and influential economist Ross Garnaut's recent push to revive the idea of a carbon tax. However, Mr Hogan said the cashflow tax would introduce a 'whole new system with complications' in an attempt to fund 'a tax cut for small business by taxing bigger business more'. He added while the new tax and push for carbon pricing were hopefully 'just ideas', they were 'all up for grabs' at the economic reform roundtable. 'I just hope this doesn't become a bonfire of good ideas, because the reality of the whole productivity story in this economy is we must first get a consensus on why productivity is so weak,' Mr Hogan said. 'Only once we have a common understanding of the problem we can seek useful and enduring solutions. 'I'd like to see the next three days spent on trying to define the problem we've got to fix, rather than coming up with a whole bunch of ideas and policies and solutions which may not be solving the problem and may even make matters worse.' Concerns have also been raised about the government using the roundtable to increase taxes, with a new poll finding 57 per cent of voters are opposed to the move - which Labor could use to repair the budget. Mr Hogan said there was sure to be 'strong arguments made to not increase the tax burden', but that this would come up against the government's need for more revenue. 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Mr van Onselen also said Australia was 'committing energy policy suicide' by shutting down reliable baseload power in favour of intermittent weather weather-dependent renewables. 'That's just going to add cost right across the supply chain on every single level of supply chain, and we're just going have a higher energy cost future, which means we're going to have further deindustrialisation,' he said. 'We're going to be a less productive economy and a less self-sufficient economy going forward. "These are the two areas the productivity roundtable is not going to tackle.'
Perth Now
11 minutes ago
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Australia slams Israel's huge visa move
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has slammed Israel's decision to revoke visas for Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority as 'unjustified'. Her counterpart in Israel, Gideon Sa'ar, announced the move overnight in response to Australia cancelling a visa for a far-right Israeli MP. It is the heaviest blow to the bilateral relationship, which has been severely strained by the Albanese government's opposition to large-scale civilian suffering in Gaza. 'At a time when dialogue and diplomacy are needed more than ever, the Netanyahu Government is isolating Israel and undermining international efforts towards peace and a two-state solution,' Senator Wong said in a statement. 'This is an unjustified reaction, following Australia's decision to recognise Palestine. 'We will continue to work with partners as we contribute international momentum to a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Israel's decision is 'unjustified'. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia It is unclear how many Australian officials are affected by Israel's decision, as the diplomatic presence for the Palestinian Authority is relatively small. But in his announcement overnight, Mr Sa'ar hinted action could be expanded to include Australian officials seeking to enter Israel. 'I also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Canberra to carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel,' he posted on social media. He pointed to Anthony Albanese's pledge 'to recognize a 'Palestinian state' and against the backdrop of Australia's unjustified refusal to grant visas to a number of Israeli figures, including former Minister Ayelet Shaked and the Chairman of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, MK Simcha Rotman'. Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke blocked a visa for Ms Shaked for comments she made in 2014 calling children of terrorists 'little snakes'. She said the families of terrorists 'are all enemy combatants, and their blood shall be on all their heads'. NewsWire understands Mr Rotman's visa was cancelled for similar reasons. 'While antisemitism is raging in Australia, including manifestations of violence against Jews and Jewish institutions, the Australian government is choosing to fuel it by false accusations, as if the visit of Israeli figures will disrupt public order and harm Australia's Muslim population,' Mr Sa'ar said. 'It is shameful and unacceptable!' In her statement, Senator Wong disputed Mr Sa'ar's claim, saying that Australia 'welcomes different races, religions and views, united by respect for each other's humanity and for each other's right to live in peace'. 'We safeguard our communities and protect all Australians from hate and harm,' she said. 'The Australian Government will always take decisive action against antisemitism.' More to come.
