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: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au

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