Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) Share this | Hansard source

These bills provide for the establishment and enforcement of a national higher education code to prevent and respond to gender based violence. They are an important step in making students and staff safer on our campuses. I thank senators across the chamber for their contributions to this debate.

I note the second reading amendment from Senator Duniam. The government takes the issue of antisemitism at universities very seriously. Antisemitism, Islamophobia or any other form of racism, harassment, discrimination or intimidation must not be allowed to threaten the safety of students and staff on Australian university campuses or anywhere else. The Minister for Education has been clear that universities must enforce their codes of conduct and meet their legislative obligations, which include having policies around freedom of speech, fostering a safe environment and ensuring student and staff wellbeing.

Since 1 February this year, the independent National Student Ombudsman has been open for students. The ombudsman is a national first. It is available to handle complaints from students about experiences of antisemitism on university campuses. The ombudsman is required to report to government at the end of each financial year about the nature and number of complaints it has received.

The government is also anticipating the final report from the Race Discrimination Commissioner into racism, including antisemitism, at Australian universities. We have also received the Special Envoy's Plan to Combat Antisemitism from Ms Jillian Segal and will soon receive a report from the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia in Australia, Aftab Malik. The government will consider these reports carefully and respond accordingly. We want these independent bodies to have a chance to do their work rather than pre-empt any recommendations they might make. The government will not be supporting the second reading amendment as proposed at this time.

We are taking this action now as it forms a key commitment under the Action Plan Addressing Gender-based Violence in Higher Education, following more than a decade of dedicated advocacy on behalf of victims-survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment on campus. I commend these bills to the chamber.