Stopping Antisemitism in Australia through Education
Protecting Shared Australian Values
The tragic antisemitic shootings in Bondi on Sunday are a stark reminder of what can happen when the shared values that bind us together and make Australia a nation worth celebrating are eroded. These values — equality and a fair go, respect for others, and the freedoms we cherish — run through our history and shape our identity.
Acts of violence driven by hatred undermine not only the safety of individuals but the very foundations of our democracy and social cohesion. Every Australian should have the freedom to work, enjoy family life, and celebrate cultural and religious festivals safely.
The tragic events in Bondi highlight the urgent need to reaffirm our commitment to equality under the law and to educate the next generation about the civic principles that protect freedom, justice, and respect for all.
From our convict heritage to modern times, Australia has never claimed perfection, but we have strived to uphold the dignity and worth of every individual, ensuring opportunity and safety for all.
Our culture, institutions, and laws have worked to correct shortcomings and to strengthen and protect these values.
Antisemitism is not just a threat to Jews.
As our Vice President Chris Merritt wrote in The Australian newspaper:
“For far too long, we have been far too modest about the power of the values that underpin the Australian Constitution and the rule of law. They need to be mobilised and sent into battle. History shows that when they are strong, they can protect us all – including religious minorities.
That is why they should form part of the effort to rid this country of the sickness that paved the way to Bondi.
Greater emphasis of these values in our schools and at our borders will send a perfectly reasonable message that we expect our founding principles to be embraced by those who make their homes here.
Jillian Segal understood the importance of Australian values and wrote about it five months ago in her report on antisemitism.
“Antisemitism is not just a threat to Jews,” she wrote. “It attacks the foundation of our nation; the fairness, equality and respect we have for one another. It is contrary to Australian values we hold dear.”
The key to understanding Segal’s report is to never lose sight of the fact that she is not asking for special treatment for Jews. Her report is a plea to defend the values of democracy, equity and mutual respect – ideas that protect us all.”
What education is needed to combat antisemitism?
As outlined by Jennifer Westacott AC, Chancellor of Western Sydney University, teaching of Australian values is a critical step in stopping anti-Semitism;
In our schools we must take action now to stop anti-Semitism, racism and hatred taking hold in our young people. It is hard to turn around entrenched prejudice. So let’s begin now a national program of enlightenment and social cohesion. What it actually means to be Jewish, what it actually means to be of other faiths – teaching our young people about Australian values, such as democracy, the rule of law, the true meaning of multiculturalism, tolerance, respect and empathy.
Explicit Teaching of Core Civic Values and Concepts
It is very difficult to have a respectful discussion or protect something you know nothing about. Meaningful and effective learning requires both knowledge and skills. Students not only need to learn the skills of respectful discussion, tolerance, and empathy; they also need explicit teaching about the key principles and values of our system of government, democracy, and laws, and how these provide essential protections for the rights and everyday lives of Australians.
What are the Core Civic Values of Australia?
Australia is a pluralist, liberal democracy with compulsory voting and compulsory civic duties, such as jury service. While our system of government and laws draws on both the United Kingdom and United States models, it has developed in ways that make it uniquely Australian. For this reason, it is vital that all citizens—whether by birth or migration—are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to be active and informed participants in the Australian community. This is both their right and their responsibility.
Civics education must reflect our system of democracy under the rule of law, in which citizens and those in positions of power trust in, follow, and are accountable to the law. It should support students to understand these principles and, where necessary, recognise how citizens can hold those in power to account when they fail to act lawfully.
Civics education must also reflect our values of ‘fair go’ and equality before the law, respect for others and the freedoms we have.
Why teaching about equality is so important
Equality is one of the core principles of our democracy and the rule of law. A set of ideas that date back to the Magna Carta and underpins our Constitution. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” These rights are not granted by laws or authorities; they are inherent to all people simply because we are human.
Entire generations of school leavers have graduated with little or no knowledge of civics or the concept that all Australians, regardless of race or religion, have a right to equal protection under the law. That has made generations of young people easy pickings for alien ideologies that seek to overturn the principle of equality that is at the core of modern Australia.
Equality before the law means that every person is treated the same by the legal system, regardless of their wealth, age, gender, race, religion, occupation or social status. It ensures that no one is above the law, including government officials, and that all similar cases are treated alike to create consistency in the treatment of parties to a matter before the courts.
Below are some ways students can learn about Equality:
The Magna Carta
The real value of the Magna Carta is in its ideas. By sealing the Magna Carta in 1215, King John of England agreed to follow the laws of the land.
It marked the start of the doctrine which now means nobody is above the law – not even a king of England, a prime minister of Australia or an American president. This idea underpins constitutional government in Britain, Australia, the US and other countries that share a common law heritage.
It marked the beginning of the doctrine of equality of citizenship – that all citizens should be treated fairly and equally. It also marked the starting point for the idea that government power should be limited, that human rights should be protected and justice should be accessible to all.
Magna Carta and Antisemitism: The Call for Justice for all
At our Annual Dinner this year, Henry Ergas AO spoke on the Magna Carta and Anti-Semitism and Justice for All. During the Q&A he noted:
“the foundation of a free society is not the law as such. It’s what I referred to as liberal temper… To my mind, what has replaced it is even uglier than just what one might regard as the illiberal temper.
What has replaced it is what I would call the politics of hatred. The politics of hatred are the politics where coalitions are not based on any view of a better future and a better society and how to build it. They are created and held together by a transient series of common enemies in Australia.”
Resources for History Students
Understanding the history and development of our government systems is important for every Australian. These systems didn’t just appear; they have grown over more than 200 years in Australia and over 800 years from England, starting with the Magna Carta.
By learning how our democracy and rule of law were built and why they work the way they do, students can learn from the past. This helps them take part in making our future better for everyone. From the first civil case in the colony in 1788 to the Eureka Stockade and the adoption of the Australian Constitution, equality has been a part of Australian society.
Click here for all our resources on the development of democracy in Australia:
Equal Protection for All in the Early Colony: The Story of Henry and Susannah Kable
The story of the first civil case in New South Wales where a poor convict couple sued the powerful ship’s captain for their lost parcel- and won! This event set the democratic foundations of our nation: the law must be applied equally and fairly to all, and people should have equal access to its protections. Click here
The fight for equal rights: The Eureka Rebellion
During the Victorian gold rush, the Eureka Rebellion marked one of the most important moments of representative democracy in Australia, when miners from all different backgrounds stood together to demand a ‘fair go’ for voting and political rights.
Resources for Legal Studies Students
Our legal system, symbolised by Lady Justice, provides equality before the law. This means that everyone is to be treated the same by the law; regardless of wealth, age, gender, race, religion, or background
Our case notes explore real-life Australian stories that highlight equality before the law.
They show that all those in power, including judges, police and lawmakers, must treat people equally (eg the police in the White Case) and avoid arbitrary distinctions. They also demonstrate that, regardless of the accused heritage (Skaf and Singh cases), the manner of crime ( Lynn and Folbigg cases) or public outcry (Chris Dawson case), all people are entitled to the protection of the law and to have their ‘day in court.’
Resources for Civics and Citizenship Students
Our Civics and Citizenship, together with our Commerce materials, encourage students to understand and trust the underlying principles and values of our system of governance under the rule of law.
Fabric of Australia Competition and Resources
The Informed Fabric of Australia competition invites students to explore the foundational threads that hold our nation together and examine the principles that safeguard our rights and freedoms.
Teachers can use the fact sheets and activities to create meaningful learning about 14 topics including: The Constitution, Equality before the Law, Values, Pluralism, Principles of Justice and Representative Democracy.