Racism is ‘systemic’ at Australia’s universities, report finds

Caitlin Cassidy
Racism is “systemic” at Australia’s universities, the race discrimination commissioner says, with a landmark report discovering seven in 10 respondents have skilled oblique racism, rising to 9 in 10 Palestinian and Jewish college students and employees.
The Australian Human Rights Fee’s nationwide research was commissioned in 2024 to analyze the prevalence and affect of racism at universities for the primary time. The federal authorities obtained the report in December however it was not publicly launched till Tuesday.
Of the 76,000 college students and employees that had been surveyed as a part of the research, 70% had skilled oblique racism, together with listening to or seeing racist behaviour directed at their neighborhood. Some 15% had skilled direct racism at college.
The charges had been highest for non secular Jewish and Palestinian respondents (over 90%), adopted by First Nations, Chinese language, Jewish (secular), Center Jap and Northeast Asian respondents (over 80%).
On the similar time, simply 6% of people that skilled direct racism make a grievance to their college, with many citing concern of penalties and low belief in college complaints techniques.
Key occasions

Benita Kolovos
Victoria premier has no plans to introduce observe the cash legal guidelines
Earlier this morning, the premier, Jacinta Allan, held a press convention at Footscray Hospital, which opens tomorrow morning.
Whereas there, she confronted a barrage of questions associated to the allegations of corruption within the CFMEU Victorian department.
Requested whether or not she would give the state’s anti-corruption watchdog “observe the cash” powers, as dubbed by the Greens, to permit them to analyze corrupt conduct by third events and personal subcontractors related to authorities funding, Allan responded:
I’ve obtained no bulletins to make concerning [the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission] Ibac at the moment.
She mentioned allegations detailed in a report by corruption fighter Geoffrey Watson SC had been capable of be investigated by Victoria police. Allan mentioned:
The allegations which have been raised go to alleged felony behaviour, and that features alleged felony corrupt behaviour, and as we have now seen, Victoria Police have the instruments and the powers because the impartial investigative company to reply to this matter. They’re doing so – Taskforce Hawk has laid 70 expenses in opposition to 15 people.

Tom McIlroy
Opposition requires Labor to make use of powers to cease girls from returning to Australia from Syria
The opposition has formally known as on Labor to make use of momentary exclusion orders to cease a bunch of Australian residents from returning to Australia from Syria.
A gaggle of 34 girls and kids who’re the wives, widows and kids of lifeless or jailed Islamic State fighters had tried to maneuver to security this week. The group had been held for years with out cost, however had been compelled to return to a detention camp in Syria after being launched by Kurdish forces.
Liberal senator Jonno Duniam, anticipated to take a senior position in Angus Taylor’s new frontbench line up this week, known as on the federal government to take robust motion in opposition to the group.
“One avenue out there to the federal government to cease these individuals from returning to Australia is a short lived exclusion order [TEO] – which is expressly offered so a authorities can shield its individuals,” he mentioned.
These are individuals who have been a part of a bunch that need to assault our lifestyle and are a really severe threat to our society.
TEOs enable the house affairs minister to legally stop residents from re-entering Australia for as much as two years, if they’re deemed a safety threat.
They’ll cowl minors aged 14-17, in addition to adults, however require an Asio risk evaluation.
One particular person lifeless, two in crucial situation after stabbing in Merrylands
One particular person is lifeless and two others are in crucial situation after a stabbing in Sydney’s west this morning.
NSW police mentioned emergency providers had been known as to Merrylands about 10am. Officers on scene had been instructed a person had allegedly stabbed a number of individuals earlier than leaving the world on foot.
Paramedics handled three individuals on scene for severe accidents, together with the one who died. The 2 others had been taken to an space hospital in crucial situation.
Police arrested a person later this morning, who has been taken to Granville police station. No expenses have been filed. Against the law scene has been established and an investigation is ongoing.

Caitlin Cassidy
Race discrimination commissioner says racism ‘pervasive’ throughout college sector
The race discrimination commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, mentioned the findings of the research had been deeply troubling and universities had been falling wanting their responsibility of care to college students and employees.
Racism at college just isn’t confined to remoted incidents or particular person behaviour – it’s systemic. Racism is pervasive throughout the sector, affecting many teams in severe methods … The assault on Camp Sovereignty, the antisemitic terror assault in Bondi and the current alleged tried bombing concentrating on First Peoples on 26 January in Perth – these are the horrifying outcomes when racism in our society isn’t addressed.
The report made 47 suggestions for the federal authorities and universities, together with a nationwide framework for anti-racism in tertiary training, higher accountability and a extra numerous management and workforce.
Solely 11 universities had been discovered to have superior, standalone anti‐racism methods.
Sivaraman mentioned the report confirmed the “crucial significance” of the federal authorities endorsing and funding key suggestions of the National Anti-Racism Framework, which the fee delivered in November 2024.
We can’t wait any longer as racism continues to affect the lives of many in visceral methods.
Racism is ‘systemic’ at Australia’s universities, report finds

Caitlin Cassidy
Racism is “systemic” at Australia’s universities, the race discrimination commissioner says, with a landmark report discovering seven in 10 respondents have skilled oblique racism, rising to 9 in 10 Palestinian and Jewish college students and employees.
The Australian Human Rights Fee’s nationwide research was commissioned in 2024 to analyze the prevalence and affect of racism at universities for the primary time. The federal authorities obtained the report in December however it was not publicly launched till Tuesday.
Of the 76,000 college students and employees that had been surveyed as a part of the research, 70% had skilled oblique racism, together with listening to or seeing racist behaviour directed at their neighborhood. Some 15% had skilled direct racism at college.
The charges had been highest for non secular Jewish and Palestinian respondents (over 90%), adopted by First Nations, Chinese language, Jewish (secular), Center Jap and Northeast Asian respondents (over 80%).
On the similar time, simply 6% of people that skilled direct racism make a grievance to their college, with many citing concern of penalties and low belief in college complaints techniques.
Prime minister says authorities has ‘no sympathy’ for anybody with hyperlinks to Islamic State fighters
Albanese spoke extra concerning the 34 girls and kids with hyperlinks to lifeless or jailed Islamic State fighters who had been despatched again to a Syrian detention camp this morning.
Earlier this morning he mentioned the federal government wouldn’t help with repatriation efforts. He added to ABC Radio Melbourne:
Now we have no sympathy, frankly, for individuals who travelled abroad in an effort to take part in what was an try to ascertain a caliphate to undermine and destroy our lifestyle.
It’s unlucky that youngsters are impacted by this as properly. However we aren’t offering any assist. And if anybody does handle to search out their manner again to Australia, then they’ll face the total power of the regulation if any legal guidelines have been damaged.
Lanyon once more requires launch of 85-year-old mistakenly kidnapped: ‘this incident is disgraceful’
Lanyon was requested concerning the present standing of lacking 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian. He mentioned:
This incident is disgraceful.
It’s clearly a case of mistaken identification and it exhibits the disregard that these concerned in organised crime have for people. The actual fact Mr Baghsarian has been taken and never returned at this stage, regardless of the actual fact we have now been very clear that you’ve the fallacious particular person.
Can I ask that you just present some respect, present dignity and guarantee Mr Baghsarian is returned to his household.
Lanyon says restrictions labored ‘very properly’, however time to get neighborhood again to ‘what’s regular’
Lanyon mentioned the current protests had “little or no” position within the determination to finish the restriction on public assemblies, however mentioned they had been in place throughout Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s go to earlier this month as a result of he had “vital considerations concerning the security of the neighborhood” on the time.
He mentioned:
I’m glad that circumstances that led to the extension final time don’t exist now …
There was vital animosity in direction of that head of state. There was a necessity for a police power to make sure we offer safety to that head of state. There have been giant occasions that had been deliberate across the go to of that head of state. We didn’t need there to be battle between protesters and the top of state.
He added the restrictions had labored “very properly”, however it was now time to get the neighborhood “again to what’s regular”.
NSW restriction on public assemblies ends
The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, mentioned the general public meeting restriction declaration has ended after it lapsed earlier this morning.
Lanyon mentioned at a press convention:
While the general public meeting restriction declaration has been lifted at the moment, I need the neighborhood to think about … that is nonetheless a time for calm. It’s two months out from the worst terror incident we have now had in New South Wales.
Lanyon mentioned he would proceed to work carefully with organisers to make sure public security “sits alongside” public meeting.
Albanese teases announcement on excessive pace rail, says it ‘completely is sensible’
Again to the prime minister, who spoke to ABC Information earlier this morning. Albanese was requested about the way forward for excessive pace rail within the nation, saying the federal government would have an announcement on the matter “in a few weeks’ time”.
He added:
It received’t be open whereas I’m prime minister. However we’ll have an announcement in a few weeks’ time.
I believe that it completely is sensible. Now we have a small inhabitants for a comparatively massive nation, an island continent. We’re the one inhabited continent on earth that doesn’t have high-speed rail. And definitely Newcastle to Sydney to Canberra to Melbourne makes absolute sense.
It’s the place most of our inhabitants is, alongside that hall. What makes it financially viable is the financial growth alongside the route as properly.
Police involved about ‘brazen’ nature of Greenacre capturing
Police mentioned there isn’t any ongoing risk to the neighborhood, however mentioned they continue to be involved about an assault happening within the early morning.
We’re involved about this brazen assault. It’s a brazen ambush of this male one who, from my understanding, was heading to his automobile to go to work.
Hart mentioned the sufferer lived at house together with his spouse and numerous youngsters. He mentioned he believes some members of the family had been inside the home on the time of the capturing.
Police have appealed for data from the neighborhood after the assault.
Police say capturing in Sydney’s west this morning believed to be a ‘focused assault’
NSW police are offering an replace after NRL star Matt Utai was shot in a public capturing in Sydney’s west early this morning.
Supt Rodney Hart mentioned the person, 44, had suffered numerous gunshot wounds, together with a shot to the decrease leg and to the higher shoulder/chest space. Police wouldn’t verify Utai is the sufferer of the capturing, however mentioned:
I need to reassure the neighborhood that we strongly consider that this can be a focused assault. I do know all through the media this morning a sure high-profile particular person’s title has been put out because the sufferer. Sadly, presently I can’t verify who that sufferer is.
The explanation for that’s that particular person is a sufferer of a violent capturing. He’s at present present process surgical procedure in hospital and our predominant focus at this second, not solely is to establish who’s concerned on this however to make sure he and his household are secure.
Federal courtroom dismisses landmark greenwashing case in opposition to Santos

Lisa Cox
A world-first greenwashing case introduced by the Australasian Centre for Company Duty in opposition to gasoline firm Santos has been dismissed by the federal courtroom.
The case, launched by the shareholder advocacy organisation in 2021, challenged the veracity of Santos’s internet zero plan and claims by the corporate that it was a producer of “clear” vitality.
The ACCR, represented by the Environmental Defenders Workplace, alleged the gasoline firm breached the Firms Act by partaking in deceptive or misleading conduct in its 2020 annual report, a 2020 investor briefing and a 2021 local weather change report.
Central to those allegations had been three key claims by Santos that the ACCR argued the corporate lacked cheap grounds for making: that it was a producer of “clear vitality” and that pure gasoline was a “clear gas”, that hydrogen produced by Santos with carbon seize and storage was “zero emissions hydrogen” and “clear hydrogen”, and that it had a transparent and credible pathway to internet zero by 2040.
Justice Brigitte Markovic dismissed the case on all grounds in a short listening to on Tuesday morning and ordered the applicant to pay Santos’s prices. The explanations for the choice will likely be revealed on 23 February.
The case was heard over a 13 days in 2024. The ACCR holds shares in fossil gas corporations similar to Santos to attempt to power them to satisfy the targets of the Paris local weather settlement.
Former NRL star Matt Utai in hospital after public capturing
Again to the report of a 44-year-old shot in western Sydney this morning: former NRL star Matt Utai is in hospital preventing for all times after being shot a number of occasions, AAP stories.
The 2004 premiership-winning Bulldogs and Wests Tigers winger was shot outdoors a house in Greenacre, in western Sydney, at round 6am on Tuesday.
Police had been instructed a 44-year-old man was shot outdoors the house by individuals inside an SUV, earlier than the automobile fled. The SUV was then discovered after being set on hearth in Wiley Park, lower than a 10-minute drive from the place the capturing befell.
Utai, 44, was reportedly shot within the abdomen and the leg. He was taken to hospital in a severe situation.
Police are set to carry a press convention on the matter round 9.50am.

Benita Kolovos
The CFMEU has value Victorian taxpayers $15bn, a corruption fighter claims. How did he attain that determine and what occurs subsequent?
The Victorian premier will face mounting stress in parliament this week over allegations that corruption involving the Development, Forestry and Maritime Workers Union value taxpayers as much as $15bn.
The attention-watering estimate appeared in a redacted part of a report by corruption fighter Geoffrey Watson SC, which was tendered throughout a Queensland inquiry into the CFMEU final week.
The report centred on the CFMEU’s Victoria and Tasmania department over the course of twenty years, when it allegedly went from a union centered on staff’ rights to a “violent, hateful and grasping rabble” that “cultivated the corporate of underworld figures” and bikie gangs.
Right here’s what to know concerning the report and the federal government’s view of it:
Australia is not going to help in repatriating girls and kids caught in Syria, PM says
Anthony Albanese mentioned Australia is not going to facilitate or help in repatriating 34 girls and kids in Syria who’re the wives, widows and kids of lifeless or jailed Islamic State fighters. The group had been held for years with out cost, and had been not too long ago compelled to return to a detention camp in Syria after being launched by Kurdish forces.
Albanese was requested concerning the Australians on ABC this morning, saying:
We received’t repatriate them. And certainly the federal government was taken to courtroom by one of many non-government organisations saying we had a duty they usually weren’t profitable in that. My mom would have mentioned “In the event you make your mattress, you lie in it”.
These individuals went abroad supporting Islamic State and went there to supply assist for individuals who mainly need a caliphate …
Whereas Australian residents can’t be blocked from returning on their very own, Albanese mentioned he was agency in his stance that the federal government wouldn’t present help to the cohort in Syria, including:
Now we have a really agency view that we received’t be offering help or repatriation. In fact Australian regulation applies, and there are obligations that Australian officers have, however we need to make it clear, as we have now to the individuals concerned, that if there are any breaches of the regulation, then they may face the total power of the Australian regulation.
Man, 44, severely injured after public place capturing in Sydney’s west
A person was severely injured in a public place capturing within the Sydney suburb of Greenacre this morning.
NSW police mentioned emergency providers had been known as to the world in Sydney’s west round 6am amid stories a person had been shot outdoors a house by the occupants of an SUV earlier than it drove away.
The person, 44, was handled on the scene by paramedics and brought to the hospital in a severe situation.
Police had been known as to the close by suburb of Wiley Park a short while later after stories of a automotive hearth. They’ve established a criminal offense scene at each places and opened an investigation into the matter, which they’re treating as linked.
Albanese predicts One Nation surge could also be shortlived amid ‘mess’ of mutual hatred on political proper
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, mentioned the rise of One Nation has occurred earlier than, however previous surges within the occasion’s recognition “all collapsed” after a couple of years.
Albanese was requested about Pauline Hanson and her occasion’s beefy poll numbers, however he instructed ABC Information whereas individuals had been “fairly clearly annoyed” throughout Australia, One Nation might not be a bastion for that angst for lengthy:
We noticed it in 1996 when she was elected and 1998 she received double-digit variety of seats in Queensland. Nobody made it to 2 years, all of it collapsed. That’s tended to be what has occurred.
We’ll wait and see what the connection is between Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce in a few years’ time – two very massive egos put in a single melting pot.
Albanese went on to say One Nation had alway been about “figuring out issues” whereas selling “division”, including:
Persons are annoyed as a result of the Coalition events are such a large number. The Liberals hate one another and the Nats hate one another and the Liberals hate the Nats and the Nats are leaving to affix One Nation.
It truly is a little bit of a large number on the correct wing of politics in the mean time. One Nation signify certainty – no options, however certainty of figuring out issues.











