June 13, 2026
The Group of Eight (Go8) Board has received the final report of the Expert Advisory Committee on Combatting Antisemitism (EACCA) and will carefully review the report and its recommendations.
We recognise the work of Dr Alan Finkel AC and the committee members to deliver this report.
The Go8 is deeply committed to combatting antisemitism, and all forms of racism, across university campuses, and our nation more broadly.
Our work to ensure campuses are safe, inclusive and respectful environments will never end. Go8 universities set the standard not just in higher education, but for Australian and international communities more broadly. We embrace that responsibility of leadership and are committed to helping improve Australia's social cohesion.
Background:
The EACCA was established on 17 December, following the Bondi terrorist attack, to provide independent expert advice to strengthen how Go8 universities prevent, respond to and manage antisemitism on campus.
Chaired by Dr Alan Finkel AC, the Committee brought together senior leaders with deep expertise in governance, security and higher education. It undertook extensive consultations with Jewish community leaders, students and academics, vice-chancellors, parliamentarians and government agencies, security experts, and international counterparts to inform its recommendations.
The Committee also engaged closely with Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal AO, and the Chair of the Antisemitism Education Taskforce, David Gonski AC.
The Committee found that antisemitism increased markedly after the events of 7 October 2023, and this was reflected on Australian university campuses.
The Report sets out a practical framework for continuous improvement across key areas including:
- adoption of a definition of antisemitism;
- complaints and reporting mechanisms;
- education and training for executives, teaching staff and students;
- regulatory and operational principles; and
- social media protocols.
EACCA Membership
| Dr Alan Finkel AC: | Former Chief Scientist and former Chancellor of Monash University |
| Dr Annabelle Bennett AC SC: | Former Federal Court Judge and former Chancellor of Bond University |
| Jeremy Suss: | President of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students |
| Major General Paul Symon AO (Ret'd) AO: | Former Director-General of ASIS; Co-Chair of the Go8 Defence and Security Committee |
| Diane Smith-Gander AO: | Chancellor of UWA; experienced corporate and governance leader |
| Peter Varghese AO: | Former Secretary of DFAT; Chancellor of the University of Queensland |
Expert Advisory Committee on Combatting Antisemitism Report
