Antisemitism inquiry told University of Sydney ‘did a good job' in quelling months-long pro-Palestine campus encampment
Sydney University has made a shock claim that it "did a good job" in handling pro-Palestine encampments which lasted months on its campus as a class action lawsuit is launched against the country's oldest university.
On Monday, a NSW parliamentary committee's antisemitism inquiry heard representatives from some of Australia's elite universities explain the challenges they have faced since October 7, 2023.
Among them was University of Sydney senior deputy vice-chancellor Professor Annamarie Jagose who was pressed on why the institution had not taken appropriate measures sooner when protests had begun to erupt on campuses across the country.
Professor Jagose was also asked to explain why the university did not shut down the protesters' encampment after Safe Work indicated the University of Sydney 'had the power' to move on the congregation.
'We think we did a good job in peacefully resolving the longest running encampment in Australia,' Professor Jagose said.
Professor Jagose insisted the university liaised with police and Arabic language specialists when Hezbollah or Taliban flags were allegedly flown on campus.
The university's senior deputy vice-chancellor blamed the media for circulating inaccuracies, such as the allegation Hezbollah flags were flown on campus.
External engagement vice-principal Kirsten Andrews told the committee the university had told six different inquiries it 'didn't get everything right', which is why they commissioned an independent review.
Published in November 2024, the University of Sydney's Hodgkinson External Review report, which was commissioned to review procedures following pro-Palestine protests, with the 'single largest event' being the encampment on the university's front lawns between April and June last year.
In the report, the encampment and its longevity 'gave rise to many complaints' that students and staff, and others, were subjected to 'inappropriate, threatening or racist speech' which made some feel unsafe.
'The encampment provided an opportunity for persons from outside the University, including members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, to have a presence on the campus,' the report said.
'Those involved in the encampment contributed to the feeling the campus was an unsafe place for some, particularly Jewish students and staff.
'The University had little detailed knowledge of what activities were going on at any particular time… People were coming and going from the encampment as they pleased.'
Ms Andrews said the report made 15 recommendations which were 'accepted in full' by the university's senate and were now being fully implemented.
The inquiry came after Sky News revealed a class action lawsuit was filed against Australia's oldest university over its handling of antisemitism since the October 7 terror attacks in Israel.
On Sunday, it was revealed the legal action against the University of Sydney and two of its highest-profile anti-Israel academics Dr Nick Riemer and Professor John Keane was lodged in the Federal Court on Friday.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Israel says Tehran to 'pay price' after attacks
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Israel's military said on Monday morning it had struck again at command centres belonging to the Revolutionary Guard and Iran's military. G7 leaders began gathering in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday with the Israel-Iran conflict expected to be a top priority. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his goals for the summit include for Iran to not develop or possess nuclear weapons, ensuring Israel's right to defend itself, avoiding escalation of the conflict and creating room for diplomacy. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told parliament on Monday Tehran has no intention of building nuclear weapons but it would continue to pursue its right to nuclear energy and research. Before leaving for the summit on Sunday, Trump said he hoped there would be a deal, but said: "sometimes they have to fight it out." Brent crude futures were up 0.5 per cent in Asian trade on Monday, having surged late last week. While the spike in oil prices has investors on edge, stock and currency markets were little moved in Asia. Israel began the assault with a surprise attack on Friday that wiped out the top echelon of Iran's military command and damaged its nuclear sites, and says the campaign will escalate in the coming days. Iran has vowed to "open the gates of hell" in retaliation. Iranian missiles struck Israel's Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa before dawn, killing at least eight people and destroying homes, prompting Israel's defence minister to warn that Tehran residents would "pay the price and soon". The dangers of further escalation loomed over a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders in Canada, with US President Donald Trump expressing hope on Sunday that a deal could be done but no sign of the fighting abating on a fourth day of war. The fatalities in Israel on Monday, reported by Israel's national emergency services, raised its death toll to 23 civilians since Friday. Israeli attacks in Iran have killed at least 224 people since Friday, Iran's health ministry has said. At least 100 more were wounded in Israel in the overnight blitz, part of a wave of attacks by Tehran in retaliation for Israel's strikes targeting the nuclear and ballistic missile programs of sworn enemy Iran. Search and rescue operations were underway in Haifa where around 30 people were wounded, emergency authorities said, as dozens of first responders rushed to the strike zones. Fires were seen burning at a power plant near the port, media reported. Video footage showed several missiles over Tel Aviv and explosions could be heard there and over Jerusalem. Several residential buildings in a densely populated neighbourhood of Tel Aviv were destroyed in a strike that blew out the windows of hotels and other nearby homes just a few hundred metres from the US Embassy branch in the city which sustained minor damage. The pre-dawn missiles also struck near Shuk HaCarmel, a popular market in Tel Aviv that typically draws large crowds of residents and tourists buying fresh fruit and vegetables, and to popular bars and restaurants. A residential street in nearby Petah Tikva and a school in ultra-Orthodox Jewish city Bnei Brak were also hit. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the latest attack employed a new method that caused Israel's multi-layered defence systems to target each other and allowed Tehran to successfully hit many targets, without providing further details. The Israeli Defence Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. There were no reports in Israel of interceptor missiles hitting each other. Israeli officials have repeatedly said its defence systems are not 100 per cent and have warned of tough days ahead. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement: "The arrogant dictator of Tehran has become a cowardly murderer who targets the civilian home front in Israel to deter the IDF from continuing the attack that is collapsing his capabilities." "The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon." The death toll in Iran was already at least 224, with 90 per cent of the casualties reported to be civilians, an Iranian health ministry spokesperson said. Israel's military said on Monday morning it had struck again at command centres belonging to the Revolutionary Guard and Iran's military. G7 leaders began gathering in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday with the Israel-Iran conflict expected to be a top priority. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his goals for the summit include for Iran to not develop or possess nuclear weapons, ensuring Israel's right to defend itself, avoiding escalation of the conflict and creating room for diplomacy. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told parliament on Monday Tehran has no intention of building nuclear weapons but it would continue to pursue its right to nuclear energy and research. Before leaving for the summit on Sunday, Trump said he hoped there would be a deal, but said: "sometimes they have to fight it out." Brent crude futures were up 0.5 per cent in Asian trade on Monday, having surged late last week. While the spike in oil prices has investors on edge, stock and currency markets were little moved in Asia. Israel began the assault with a surprise attack on Friday that wiped out the top echelon of Iran's military command and damaged its nuclear sites, and says the campaign will escalate in the coming days. Iran has vowed to "open the gates of hell" in retaliation. Iranian missiles struck Israel's Tel Aviv and the port city of Haifa before dawn, killing at least eight people and destroying homes, prompting Israel's defence minister to warn that Tehran residents would "pay the price and soon". The dangers of further escalation loomed over a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders in Canada, with US President Donald Trump expressing hope on Sunday that a deal could be done but no sign of the fighting abating on a fourth day of war. The fatalities in Israel on Monday, reported by Israel's national emergency services, raised its death toll to 23 civilians since Friday. Israeli attacks in Iran have killed at least 224 people since Friday, Iran's health ministry has said. At least 100 more were wounded in Israel in the overnight blitz, part of a wave of attacks by Tehran in retaliation for Israel's strikes targeting the nuclear and ballistic missile programs of sworn enemy Iran. Search and rescue operations were underway in Haifa where around 30 people were wounded, emergency authorities said, as dozens of first responders rushed to the strike zones. Fires were seen burning at a power plant near the port, media reported. Video footage showed several missiles over Tel Aviv and explosions could be heard there and over Jerusalem. Several residential buildings in a densely populated neighbourhood of Tel Aviv were destroyed in a strike that blew out the windows of hotels and other nearby homes just a few hundred metres from the US Embassy branch in the city which sustained minor damage. The pre-dawn missiles also struck near Shuk HaCarmel, a popular market in Tel Aviv that typically draws large crowds of residents and tourists buying fresh fruit and vegetables, and to popular bars and restaurants. A residential street in nearby Petah Tikva and a school in ultra-Orthodox Jewish city Bnei Brak were also hit. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the latest attack employed a new method that caused Israel's multi-layered defence systems to target each other and allowed Tehran to successfully hit many targets, without providing further details. The Israeli Defence Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. There were no reports in Israel of interceptor missiles hitting each other. Israeli officials have repeatedly said its defence systems are not 100 per cent and have warned of tough days ahead. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement: "The arrogant dictator of Tehran has become a cowardly murderer who targets the civilian home front in Israel to deter the IDF from continuing the attack that is collapsing his capabilities." "The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon." The death toll in Iran was already at least 224, with 90 per cent of the casualties reported to be civilians, an Iranian health ministry spokesperson said. 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The pre-dawn missiles also struck near Shuk HaCarmel, a popular market in Tel Aviv that typically draws large crowds of residents and tourists buying fresh fruit and vegetables, and to popular bars and restaurants. A residential street in nearby Petah Tikva and a school in ultra-Orthodox Jewish city Bnei Brak were also hit. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the latest attack employed a new method that caused Israel's multi-layered defence systems to target each other and allowed Tehran to successfully hit many targets, without providing further details. The Israeli Defence Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. There were no reports in Israel of interceptor missiles hitting each other. Israeli officials have repeatedly said its defence systems are not 100 per cent and have warned of tough days ahead. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement: "The arrogant dictator of Tehran has become a cowardly murderer who targets the civilian home front in Israel to deter the IDF from continuing the attack that is collapsing his capabilities." "The residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon." The death toll in Iran was already at least 224, with 90 per cent of the casualties reported to be civilians, an Iranian health ministry spokesperson said. Israel's military said on Monday morning it had struck again at command centres belonging to the Revolutionary Guard and Iran's military. G7 leaders began gathering in the Canadian Rockies on Sunday with the Israel-Iran conflict expected to be a top priority. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his goals for the summit include for Iran to not develop or possess nuclear weapons, ensuring Israel's right to defend itself, avoiding escalation of the conflict and creating room for diplomacy. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told parliament on Monday Tehran has no intention of building nuclear weapons but it would continue to pursue its right to nuclear energy and research. Before leaving for the summit on Sunday, Trump said he hoped there would be a deal, but said: "sometimes they have to fight it out." Brent crude futures were up 0.5 per cent in Asian trade on Monday, having surged late last week. While the spike in oil prices has investors on edge, stock and currency markets were little moved in Asia. Israel began the assault with a surprise attack on Friday that wiped out the top echelon of Iran's military command and damaged its nuclear sites, and says the campaign will escalate in the coming days. Iran has vowed to "open the gates of hell" in retaliation.
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- SBS Australia
The 'unsustainable' reason behind who can have nuclear weapons, and who can't
Nine countries have either declared or are believed to have nuclear weapons. Source: Getty / Anton Petrus Iran's health ministry said 224 people have been killed by Israel's attacks, while Israel said 13 have been killed by Iranian strikes. Hundreds of people have been wounded in both countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal of Friday's strikes was partially to wipe out Iran's nuclear program, calling the strikes "pre-emptive". The strikes caused significant damage to linked sites such as the Natanz nuclear facility and a uranium enrichment facility in Isfahan, and killed multiple nuclear scientists in addition to military officials and civilians. Israel has long claimed Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, with Netanyahu calling it an "existential threat to Israel". Iran has consistently denied it is developing nuclear weapons, saying its uranium enrichment program is exclusively for peaceful purposes such as energy, and international assessments have found no evidence that Iran, over the past 20 years, has had an active nuclear weaponisation program. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly said there is an Islamic fatwa — a legal ruling — against the development of nuclear weapons, and that such development is prohibited under Islamic law. Shortly before Israel's strikes on Iran, the United Nations' global nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), declared Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years. The IAEA cited "many failures" since 2019 to uphold its obligations to provide the agency with "full and timely co-operation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities". Earlier this month, the IAEA said Iran had enough uranium enriched to near-weapons grade to potentially make nine nuclear bombs. In recent days, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Opposition leader Sussan Ley have all described Iran's nuclear program as a significant "threat" to international peace and security. Tilman Ruff is an honorary principal fellow at The University of Melbourne and the co-president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and was a founding chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. He told SBS News while it's "pretty clear that Iran was flirting with nuclear weapons" and had an early nuclear weapons program around 20 years ago, there was no evidence of active weaponisation, or that Israel's strike was "pre-emptive in the sense that Iran was clearly planning an attack on Israel that was imminent". Israel has never formally confirmed or denied if it has nuclear weapons itself, long maintaining a policy of deliberate ambiguity. It's also never signed two key international agreements aimed at the non-proliferation and prohibition of nuclear weapons. These factors have contributed to the widely held perception that Israel owns nuclear weapons. Ruff described Israel's "extremely dangerous" attack on Friday as "the most flagrant example of double standards that you could possibly imagine". When it comes to countries developing nuclear capacities, Ruff said the "inherent ambiguity" of nuclear programs made it a far bigger issue than just Iran. "Any country that's determined to do so, that's got either an enrichment plant or a nuclear reactor, can build a nuclear weapon," he said. "If you can produce uranium to run in reactors, then you've got everything you need to enrich it to weapons grade. And there are other countries with vast stocks much larger than Iran's of weapons-usable material. "There are many other countries who have been flirting with having nuclear facilities and the capacity to produce fissile material quickly to shorten the path to a weapon, should they choose to do so." Eight countries have declared they have nuclear weapons: Russia, the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan and North Korea. Russia and the US control the vast majority of these weapons, together possessing around 90 per cent of the 12,241 estimated warheads that exist globally, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). While Israel is also strongly believed to have nuclear weapons, including by SIPRI, it has long maintained a policy of deliberate ambiguity. Ruff said there had been "very clear threats" of nuclear weapon use from Israeli government members. Most recently, in November 2023, Israeli minister Amihai Eliyahu said a nuclear strike on Gaza would be "one way" of responding to Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel . Some viewed Eliyahu's comments as an implicit admission that Israel had nuclear capabilities. The comments were disavowed by Israeli politicians, including a rebuke by Netanyahu. SIPRI, in its annual assessment of armaments, disarmament and international security on Monday, warned the world's nuclear arsenals were being enlarged. SIPRI stated that the nine nuclear-armed states continued to modernise and upgrade their nuclear capabilities throughout 2024. SIPRI's Hans M Kristensen said: "The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the Cold War, is coming to an end." "Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements." Multiple international agreements have aimed at curbing the spread of nuclear weapons with a view towards disarmament. The United Nations-backed Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Weapons (NPT) came into effect in 1970, and included agreements from Russia, the US, the UK, China and France. Those states agreed to pursue disarmament in exchange for the rest of the treaty's signatories agreeing never to acquire nuclear weapons. The treaty has overwhelming support, with 191 states being party to it, including Iran. Israel is one of the few countries — along with India, Pakistan, North Korea and South Sudan — to not have signed on, due to its policy of deliberate ambiguity. Ruff said a shortcoming of the treaty was that, while it contained a detailed regime regarding non-proliferation by states that didn't already have nuclear weapons, there were no clear details or timeframe for other countries to implement disarmament. Those countries, Ruff said, "show absolutely no sign of fulfilling that obligation after more than half a century" and have continued to justify their possession of nuclear weapons. "And there's of course also the four nuclear armed states — Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea — that are outside the treaty that are not formally bound by its requirements," he said. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted in 2017 and coming into effect in 2021, marked the first legally binding, comprehensive international agreement to ban nuclear weapons. Signatories are prohibited from the development, testing, production, acquisition, stockpiling, use, threat of use, and transfer of nuclear weapons According to the UN, 73 states have ratified or acceded to the treaty. In 2015, under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for relief from certain sanctions imposed by the US, the European Union, and the UN Security Council. Ruff said it was a "very successful agreement" while active, in which the IAEA carried out "extraordinarily intrusive" inspections to ensure Iran was compliant with its obligations. In 2018, during his first term, US President Donald Trump walked away from the deal and reinstated sanctions. Iran said it would stop complying with parts of the agreement, and has substantially ramped up its enrichment program in the years since. The sixth round of talks had been set to take place on Sunday, but Iran withdrew, saying such discussions were "meaningless" amid Israel's ongoing strikes. Ruff described the current situation, in which several countries continue to own nuclear weapons, as a "completely unsustainable, unjust and very dangerous law of the jungle", and that complete disarmament was necessary for peace to occur. While countries such as the US have often cited a deterrent element to justify their continued possession of nuclear weapons, Ruff said that argument was a "fig leaf" that doesn't contribute to stability, and as a strategy, was susceptible to inaccuracy and failure. "It's an extraordinarily dangerous idea, and it's really just trumped out because deterrence sounds defensive and reasonable. "What it means is a willingness to prepare and plan for the radioactive incineration of millions of civilians somewhere in the world. It's completely unacceptable."
