Australian Universities to Adopt Mandatory Anti-Racism Standards from 2027

Australian universities will be legally required to adopt formal definitions of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples under a new anti-racism standard aimed at eliminating discrimination on campuses.

The new standards, to be released on Monday, come as university leaders, students, and academics prepare to give evidence before the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.

In addition to the anti-racism measures, the government will introduce enforceable governance standards requiring public universities to disclose vice-chancellors' salaries, consultant spending, and board meeting outcomes.

The anti-racism standard is part of the federal government's plan to combat antisemitism following the Bondi attack and reflects recommendations from the Australian Human Rights Commission's landmark report on racism in higher education.

The Respect at Uni report found that racism was widespread across Australian campuses. It documented incidents in which Palestinian students were mocked with accusations of terrorism, First Nations students faced racist abuse, and Jewish students reported feeling unsafe attending classes.

Under the new rules, universities must adopt definitions of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism against Indigenous Australians, establish transparent complaints procedures, and provide guidance to staff and students.

However, institutions will be allowed to use their own definitions and will not be required to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which has been criticized by some for potentially limiting legitimate criticism of the Israeli government.

Australia's university sector previously adopted its own definition, stating that criticism of the Israeli government is not inherently antisemitic but may become so if it relies on harmful stereotypes or discriminatory assumptions.

Education Minister Jason Clare said there is "no place for antisemitism or any form of hate" in Australian universities and stressed that institutions must actively prevent and respond to racism.

Compliance will be monitored by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), which has the authority to impose fines, set conditions on university operations, or even revoke an institution's registration.

The anti-racism standards will become mandatory for all Australian universities on 1 January 2027. Governance standards will take effect for public universities on the same date and for private universities on 1 July 2027.

The issue of antisemitism on university campuses will remain under close scrutiny this week as the Royal Commission hears evidence from senior education officials, academics, human rights representatives, and students. Jason Clare said he expects to hear "pretty horrific" testimony from Jewish students describing experiences of abuse, intimidation, and harassment, adding that while universities have made some progress, much more remains to be done.