The Albanese government has introduced new mandatory standards requiring Australian universities to implement robust measures against racism and antisemitism, effective from Monday.Vice chancellors will face scrutiny from a royal commission over their handling of hostility towards Jewish students.

The reforms mandate universities to adopt recognised definitions of antisemitism, racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and Islamophobia, while establishing transparent complaints processes and clear safety guidelines.Institutions must also report annually to regulators on their compliance efforts.The measures follow a report by Professor Greg Craven, which found no university had adequately adopted a definition of antisemitism.While the government allows universities to design their own definitions, a new report card system will grade institutions from A to D.Education Minister Jason Clare emphasized the need for stronger enforcement powers for regulators, including direct fines for non-compliance.

The reforms come ahead of public hearings where university leaders will be questioned about campus antisemitism following the 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict.

A Human Rights Commission report revealed high rates of racism among students and staff, with Jewish and Palestinian respondents experiencing the most incidents.The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will also hear from affected students and academics.