Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil apologises for anti-racism symposium

The head of an Australian university has been forced to apologise after anti-Semitism claims were made during a two-day symposium on racism.

The National Symposium on Unifying Anti-Racist Research and Action, organised by Queensland University of Technology, ran from January 23-24 at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

A speaker at a pre-symposium event used a slide depicting what they called “Dutton’s Jew”, a concocted profile of a Jewish person the speaker reportedly said would fit Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s political motivations.

Another cartoon shown at the conference reportedly encouraged audience members to “throat punch a racist today”.

In a video posted on news.com.au, University of Queensland Associate Professor Yoni Nazarathy said he was “publicly shamed” at the event for calling out the one-sided nature of the speakers.

“I’m a member of the Australian Academic Alliance Against anti-Semitism, called 5A, and together with other colleagues from 5A, we called out this conference with concerns that it only presents speakers from one side.

“This comes at a time where synagogues, cars, childcare centres and more are graffitied and burned in Melbourne and Sydney with other anti-Semitic attacks taking place here in Brisbane as well.

“It is a shame that the organisers for the conference did not use this moment to bring together all communities, including Jews like me, that identify as Zionists.

“If the organisers of the conference think that the solution to anti-racism is to single out the one person in the room that actually holds a different view that comes and listens respectfully, listens to the elders, listens to the First Nations people, and yes, even listens to the Palestinian speakers — of which there were many.

“If the conference organisers think that anti-racism is putting me there and in a coordinated manner shaming me, well, I think that another conference on anti-racism should be organised sooner rather than later.”

QUT vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil issued a statement apologising for the “hurt and offence” caused at the symposium.

“Seeing the slide, I understand why the presentation has caused significant offence, and I am sorry for the hurt caused to anyone within, and outside, the QUT community,” she said.

“I will undertake to review the circumstances of this presentation and take any action necessary.

“As for the appropriateness of the speakers on the main symposium program, it is important that universities continue to engage in rigorous discussion and debate about the issues so important to our time.

“It is equally important that this is done in a way that is respectful and safe.

“I expect that this event will be subject to further scrutiny in the upcoming parliamentary inquiry into anti-Semitism in Australian universities and we will fully cooperate with that inquiry.”

A QUT spokesperson said the symposium was “an opportunity for leading anti-racist researchers and practitioners to explore strategies for addressing systemic racism, locally and globally”.

The spokesperson said the slide shown at the pre-symposium event “caused significant concern”.