Exploring Australia's Proposed Plan Against Antisemitism

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Jillian Segal, Australia’s envoy on antisemitism, has put forth a strategy to tackle “one of the world’s oldest prejudices” amid a “very concerning increase” in anti-Jewish incidents.

Introduced alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney on Thursday, Segal noted that recent threats and vandalism have left “Jewish Australians feeling profoundly insecure”.

“We have witnessed cars set ablaze, synagogues burned, and Jews individually harassed and assaulted. This is utterly unacceptable,” she stated.

This comprehensive 20-page report provides strategies focused on educating students about the historic and contemporary issues of antisemitism.

Segal, reporting a 300 percent surge in threats, vandalism, and assaults against Jewish Australians, emphasized that “this initiative is not about preferential treatment but about ensuring equality for everyone.”

Details of the plan

It recommends strengthening legislation to counter “hateful and intimidating conduct”, including serious vilification offences, the public promotion of antisemitic sentiment, and the display of Nazi symbols. A national database would be created to ensure consistent recording of antisemitic crimes.

Education plays a pivotal role. The plan seeks to mandate Holocaust and antisemitism studies in schools, with an emphasis on Jewish history, identity, and cultural education. It also recommends better oversight of media outlets to ensure balanced and precise reporting.

A man and a woman speak during a press conference.

Anthony Albanese speaks alongside Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal in Sydney. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts

To address antisemitism on campus, the envoy will develop a ‘university report card’ assessing how institutions respond to incidents and implement preventative measures. Universities that fail to act could face cuts to government funding. A commission of inquiry into campus antisemitism has also been proposed.

Physical safety is another priority, with the plan calling for ongoing and increased funding for security at Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centres.

For the digital realm, the proposal advocates for collaboration with social media companies to reduce the spread of bots that “intentionally create societal division” and working with the eSafety Commissioner to stop AI from propagating antisemitic material.

It also proposes ensuring that public funding of cultural institutions, artists, and broadcasters is not used to support antisemitic themes. This would include embedding terms in funding agreements, removing deductible gift recipient status from organisations that promote antisemitism, and working with publicly funded media to develop content that supports social cohesion.

Community-wide education and awareness are also central to the strategy. The report suggests incorporating antisemitism training into community, sport, and service programs, as well as renewed support for Jewish cultural festivals and heritage projects. It also recommends re-establishing a Jewish Arts and Cultural Council.

Under the plan, immigration and citizenship policies would be reviewed to screen applicants for extremist views. Individuals involved in antisemitism could have their visas cancelled or be deported.

Finally, the report recommends a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, including annual reporting, to track the progress and impact of the initiatives.

Will the government adopt the recommendations?

Albanese welcomed the plan and said the government would “carefully consider” its recommendations — but stopped short of committing to implement them.

“There are a number of things in here that we are doing,” Albanese said.

“There’s a number of things that can be implemented quickly. There are a number of things that will require work over a period of time.

“Some of the plan requires a long-term approach. Some of it requires action by state governments. Some of it requires action by society. What we will do is work constructively with the envoy.”

Should the government adopt the suggested reforms, it may be some time before they take effect.

Changes to school curricula or immigration screening, for example, could require legislative change and intergovernmental coordination.

More than 300 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents

The report found a 316 per cent rise in antisemitic incidents between October 2023 and September 2024, with more than 2,000 cases of threats, assaults, vandalism, and intimidation reported.

It links the surge to the spread of extremist ideologies, both online and offline, with online platforms described as “vectors for conspiracy theories and hate speech”.

While recent measures — including new hate crime laws passed in early 2025 — have been welcomed, the report highlights ongoing gaps. Among them were academic institutions, where 60 per cent of Jewish students who experienced antisemitism said they felt unsupported by their university.

Albanese said: “There is no place in Australia for antisemitism. The kind of hatred and violence that we have seen on our streets recently is despicable, and it won’t be tolerated, and I want those responsible to face the full force of the law.”

He said multiculturalism in Australia should be something to “cherish”.

“One of the things that I [regard] as Australia’s strength is that we can be a microcosm for the world that shows that people in my local community, overwhelmingly live side-by-side with Jewish, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, that is a strength of our society,” he added.

Albanese reiterated that he was a supporter of a two-state solution in the Middle East, telling reporters: “I will continue to be consistent. I will continue to support the right of Israel to exist within secure boundaries, and I will continue to support the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for their own state.”

“But I will continue to oppose terrorist organisations like Hamas. I will continue to speak out on the need for aid into Gaza and for humanitarian concerns.

“I will continue to speak out for the release of hostages. I will continue to advocate, I don’t say one thing when they speak to people in the Israeli government, [and a] different thing publicly.”

He was also questioned about the metrics of success from this report.

“It will be successful when Australia is the sort of country… where students can go to school without any fear, where cultural diversity and expression are flourishing, where people can engage with each other and be enriched by the diversity that is our society.

“This is a process. And it is a process towards the sort of inclusive society that I know most Australians want to see.”