The University of Melbourne has defended its management of antisemitism on campus during evidence presented to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion on Wednesday, July 15th, 2026. The commission is examining how universities have handled pro-Palestinian protests and supported Jewish staff and students.

Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis, who assumed his role in February 2026, explained that during 2024, when encampments of up to 110 tents appeared on the South Lawn of the Parkville campus, the university's primary goal was to avoid the kind of violence seen on US campuses. This included managing the occupation of the Arts West building by protesters.

Davis addressed the May 9th, 2024, incident when up to 20 masked protesters occupied the office of physics professor Steven Prawer. Professor Prawer expressed disappointment at the university's response to this event. The commission heard that Prawer was targeted by pro-Palestinian activists due to his involvement in a long-standing PhD research partnership with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which protesters viewed as complicity with Israeli state actions.

Davis stated that he had helped establish the partnership with the Hebrew University years earlier and personally contacted Prawer after the incident to offer sympathy. He also supported the actions of his predecessor, Duncan Maskell, noting that the university had improved security for Prawer at its own expense to protect him.

Regarding disciplinary actions, Davis said the university chose not to publicise the names of four students suspended for their involvement in the office occupation to avoid leaving a "stain" on their young lives. He condemned protesters for inaccurately conflating the university's ties with Israeli academics as being indicative of political complicity, calling such claims "unspeakable."

Since 2024, the university has developed a website serving as a "single front door" for students and staff to lodge complaints, which went live in June 2026. Davis also assured the commission that if a similar occupation were to occur again, campus security would have sufficient powers to dismantle it.

Sources