Israel’s defenders are pressuring Australian institutions and governments to adopt and enforce the IHRA working definition of antisemitism.
Kenneth Stern, who drafted the definition, has warned its adoption is “a disaster” that is being “weaponised to go after Pro-Palestinian speech… and blind us to how antisemitism actually works.”
NSW Supreme Court Justice Desmond Fagan has categorically rejected IHRA as “detached from … reality”.
We’ve seen governments, courts and institutions resist this pressure and reject the IHRA definition – but they need support from the Jewish community and the public to do so.
Next month, we’ll deliver this petition to bodies around the country, calling on them to adopt an anti-racist approach to hate and antisemitism. Can you add your voice to the call?
*Note: petition signatories will not be published publicly, but names and postal codes will be shared upon delivery with key institutions and government officials.
Sign the petition
We the undersigned call on governments and institutions around the country to reject the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
The IHRA definition has been used globally by Israel and its advocates to repress Palestinian human rights advocacy and political expression. It is an example of anti-Palestinian racism and dangerously conflates Jewish identity with the State of Israel.
Its enforcement would stifle legitimate criticism of Israel’s past and present atrocities – its genocide in Gaza, illegal occupation of the West Bank and continuing Nakba (catastrophe) against Palestinians. Palestinians and their allies, including many Jewish people, will be the most impacted. By conflating Jews and the State of Israel, the definition’s examples only serve to make Jewish people less safe.
Antisemitism is a serious problem that needs an evidence based solution — not politicisation. As a first step, we urge you to adopt the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti-Racism Framework, which provides robust, rights-based protections against antisemitism and all kinds of racially motivated hate.
Bodies that have not yet taken a position:
- Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
- Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
- Australian Public Service Commission (issued a communication stating IHRA is ‘applicable’)
- Commonwealth Department of Education
- Most of Australia’s universities
Bodies that have rejected the IHRA definition:
- The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
- The Special Broadcast Service (SBS)
Bodies that have adopted the IHRA definition:
- The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA)
- Commonwealth Ombudsman
- Australian Government (what this means in practice is unclear)