ECAJ guide to sub­mit­ting on the Senate inquiry into the bill to establish a judicial inquiry.

The Senate is taking sub­mis­sions on its inquiry into Julian Lesser’s bill to establish a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at Aus­trali­an uni­ver­sit­ies. Sub­mis­sions close on 23 August 2024.

We encourage uni­ver­sity staff and students to make a sub­mis­sion so the Senate is aware of the antisemitism they’re exper­i­en­cing and the reasons why a judicial inquiry is needed.

What your submission should include

Your sub­mis­sion should explain the antisemitism you’re exper­i­en­cing and why a judicial inquiry is needed.

Describing antisemitism on campus

Describe in detail antisemitism you’ve exper­i­enced on campus:

• Detail of what happened.
• Whether you reported it to the uni­ver­sity or elsewhere – or why you didn’t report it.
• What the outcome was if you reported it.

Why a judicial enquiry is needed

The ECAJ has argued that a judicial inquiry is needed because it would be able to:

• Compel witnesses to appear and documents to be produced.
• Take sworn rather than anecdotal evidence.
• Control hostile witnesses who try to grand­stand for political purposes in the same way as in a courtroom.
• Guarantee anonymity to witnesses if they seek it.

How to make a submission

You can make your sub­mis­sion by 23 August by:

• Upload it on the inquiry page
• Post it to:
  Committee Secretary
  Senate Legal and Con­sti­tu­tion­al Affairs Committee
  PO Box 6100
  Par­lia­ment House
  Canberra ACT 260
• Email it to: [email protected]

Confidentiality

Note that sub­mis­sions are usually published on the inquiry’s webpage but you can ask that your name is withheld or your entire sub­mis­sion is con­fid­en­tial.

See also

• Senate Com­mis­sion of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Aus­trali­an Uni­ver­sit­ies Bill 2024
• Julian Lesser MP’s bill: Com­mis­sion of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Aus­trali­an Uni­ver­sit­ies Bill 2024
• ECAJ backs Julian Leeser’s bill to establish a judicial inquiry into antisemitism on campuses