Australian universities split on decision to adopt controversial definition of antisemitism

The Parliamentary Friends of IHRA is headed by MPs Josh Burns, Allegra Spender and Julian Leeser, and members include attorney general Mark Dreyfus and former ministers Alan Tudge and Paul Fletcher.

Guardian Australia can reveal Macquarie University and the University of Wollongong had already changed their policies to include the IHRA statement before the letter.

A source who wished to remain anonymous told Guardian Australia there had been no consultation with academics at Macquarie University prior to the definition being included into its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) policy over the summer of 2021. Macquarie University was approached for comment.

Other universities were split on their response, with some considering the definition and others appearing to rule out a change.

In a letter of complaint on 22 November, BDSA said of 11 examples in the IHRA working definition illustrating antisemitism in practice, seven related to Israel and political debate around it.