Australian universities fear rise in ‘extremism’ amid tensions over Gaza war

Australia’s peak university body has warned about a rise in extremism on campuses nationwide as tensions between students reach their highest point in more than 40 years.

It comes as a senate inquiry into right-wing extremism in Australia continues on Wednesday off the back of months of pro-Palestine encampments at universities.

Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy told the inquiry that while right-wing extremism had “become more visible”, campuses were focused on “any type of extremism”.

“It is regrettable that we’re seeing an increase across society in more extremist behaviour … (because) there is a lot of information out there,” Mr Sheehy told the inquiry.

“Young people and people in the community need to have the skills to critique that information to make sure it’s correct and universities have a role to play in that.”

Mr Sheehy said universities were “places … for political discourse” but were facing what the inquiry was told was the “most intensive political activity since the ’60s”.

He said schools were balancing the importance of freedom of speech but did not shy away from pledging to clamp down “when peaceful protest hasn’t been peaceful”.

It comes after months of pro-Palestine encampments at schools across Australia – namely, Sydney and Melbourne – and the world, many of which were forcibly closed.

Questioned by Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi about support for students facing disciplinary action, Mr Sheehy said he reached out to Jewish and Muslim student groups.

As the war in Gaza wages on, Mr Sheehy described persistent “tensions on campus” and said students were entitled to peaceful protests but also to be able to safely study.

The senate inquiry heard a range of evidence on Wednesday from academics and seeks to, among other things, determine the “threat posed by extremist movements”.

University of Canberra “far-right researcher” Jordan McSwiney said right-wing extremism had increased in recent years and was tied to the history of “colonial violence”.

The inquiry was told technology had made it easier for right-wing groups to connect and politicians needed to be “thinking about who (sic) they are sharing space with”.

“It would be great to see some care in political rhetoric and activity among Australian politicians to … avoid normalising or promoting right-wing extremist ideas,” Dr McSwiney said.

Of particular focus was Australian-born Christchurch mosque massacre perpetrator Brenton Tarrant, who Dr Imogen Richards described as a “very homegrown phenomenon”.

Asked by Senator Faruqi whether she thought there had been a “reckoning” with the attack, Dr Richards said Australians still believed “(Tarrant) was someone else’s problem”.

The inquiry is being chaired by Queensland senators Paul Scarr and Nita Green and is expected to hear further evidence from Islamic groups and police on Wednesday.