A landmark report by the Australian Human Rights Commission has found racism is systemic in Australian universities. Palestinian students faced shouts of “terrorism” and were sometimes followed by campus security. First Nations students were insulted, including being compared to “petrol sniffers.” Jewish students reported fear and harassment, with one being yelled at to “send them to the camps.” The study, commissioned as part of the Universities Accord, surveyed 76,000 students and staff. It found 70% experienced indirect racism and 15% direct racism. Religious Jewish and Palestinian students reported the highest rates, over 90%, followed by First Nations and others. International students faced more racism than locals. Despite this, only 6% made official complaints, fearing consequences and distrusting the complaint process. The report highlighted spikes in racism tied to global events. First Nations racism rose during the voice to parliament referendum, anti-Asian racism increased with COVID-19, and antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racism surged during the Israel-Gaza war. Examples included Palestinian students needing to provide death certificates to get academic extensions, physical assaults, and fears of deportation for expressing views. Jewish students reported a sustained rise in antisemitism since October 7, 2023. Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman called racism “systemic” and “deeply embedded” in universities. One complaint took 12 months to be dismissed due to delay, showing the inefficiency of complaint systems. The report made 47 recommendations, including forming a national antiracism framework and better complaint reporting. Only 11 universities have strong antiracism policies. Education Minister Jason Clare said the federal government would consider the report in upcoming higher education reforms. He aims to make universities safe for all students and strengthen the university regulator’s powers. Universities Australia called the report “deeply troubling” and urged coordinated action. National Union of Students president Felix Hughes said voluntary policies have failed and called for mandatory protections and complaint systems nationwide. The government received the report in December, but it was released publicly only on Tuesday.