Taunts, harassment and assaults: landmark report finds racism at Australian universities is ‘systemic’

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 1 min read 100% complete by Caitlin CassidyFebruary 17, 2026 at 06:26 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

A recent Australian Human Rights Commission report found that racism is "systemic" within Australian universities. The report details instances of harassment and assault targeting various groups, including Palestinian, First Nations, and Jewish students. Examples include students being mocked with shouts of "terrorism," being followed by campus security, and being subjected to discriminatory comparisons. Jewish students reported feeling unsafe, with some experiencing harassment for wearing religious attire and others hearing antisemitic slurs. The report concludes that universities have failed in their duty of care and that complaint processes are inadequate.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

First Nations 50% Palestinian 60% Jewish ×270% Australia ×280% Australian Human Rights Commission 90%

Keywords

racism 100% australian universities 90% systemic racism 80% harassment 70% assaults 60% jewish students 50% complaints processes 50% duty of care 50% palestinian peers 40% first nations students 40%