A univerity in Australia has come under fire for allowing a “disturbing antisemitic lecture” as part of an “anti-racism” conference.

The event, sanctioned and hosted by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) saw speakers accuse Jewish groups of being complicit in the spread of “racism, Islamophobia, and anti-immigrant sentiment”

Footage posted to social media showed Sarah Schwartz, a Jewish human right lawyer, speaking at an even called The Greatest Race Debate ahead of QUT’s National Symposium on Unifying Anti-Racist Research and Action

Schwartz is an executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, a community organisation set up in 2024 to represent non-Zionist Jews in the country and known for its fiercly pro-Palestnian stance.

During her talk, she presented a slideshow in which she mocked Jewish supporters of Australian politician Peter Dutton.

In the leaked video, Schwartz displayed a slide depicting a mocked-up superhero character dubbed “Dutton’s Jew”.

The character was then given stereotypical attritbutes including that he “hates Palestinians, Arabs and Mulisms” and “thinks of anitsemitism as the only form of racism”.

Schwartz also claimed that the Jewish community was being exploited to promote division and support right-wing political agendas, notably those of Dutton.

During a speech a slide was shared which mocked Jewish supporters of Peter Dutton (Image: X)

The Greatest Race Debate was part of the QUT’s official program for the symposium and tickets for the latter also provided entry to the former, according to the event listing.

Addressing the controversial statements, Schwartz allegedly told attendees: “The reality is that for Dutton and his ilk, us Jews are the perfect avatars for peddling racism, Islamophobia, and anti-immigrant sentiment.” Her comments, which she says were misinterpreted, included a statement that Dutton used the Jewish community as a “human shield” to support his political views.

In the same speech, Schwartz also reportedly displayed a slide showing a collage of pro-Israel figures, including Dutton, Elon Musk, and US President Donald Trump, alongside the caption, “With friends like these, who needs enemies…?”

The lecture has sparked outrage among Jewish groups, with the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies sharing in a statement on social media that “the presentation would not have been out of place in antisemitic gatherings throughout the ages.”

“Jews were characterised as being hateful, racist and xenophobic – malevolently working with politicians for nefarious purposes,” they added.

“It contained it all – laughter as Jews were the subject of public mockery, images of Rabbis as the subject of ridicule, and the baseless demonisation of a community which has done nothing to warrant such hatred.

“We are loathe to ever make comparisons with pre-war Germany, but these are scenes which would not have been out of place in Nazi propaganda or a 1930s Bavarian Beer Hall.”

The Board, who condemned the lecture as “perverse and disturbing,” has called on Education Minister Jason Clare to take action against the university.

For its part, the university has distanced itself from the remarks but has not directly refuted the allegations.

In an official statement, QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Sheil expressed her regret, saying, “Seeing the slide, I understand why the presentation has caused significant offence, and I am sorry for the hurt caused to anyone within, and outside, the QUT community.

“I will undertake to review the circumstances of this presentation and take any action necessary.” She further emphasised that the university’s policies protect both academic freedom and anti-discrimination, stating, “It is equally important that this is done in a way that is respectful and safe.”

In response to the criticism, Schwartz defended her presentation to the Daily Mail, claiming that her words were taken out of context.

“I pilloried Peter Dutton’s racist, ignorant and monolithic conception of Jewish people,” she said. “I argued that he uses this conception to promote division, attack the Australian Labour Party, and push an anti-immigration agenda.”

Schwartz asserted that the term “Dutton’s Jew” referred to the politician’s “racist conception of Jewish people,” not the Jewish community as a whole, and insisted that her comments were misrepresented by "far-right social media accounts."

She added: “Dutton’s reduction of the Jewish community into a single stereotype, and silencing Jews who don't fit that typology, only serves to make Jews less safe. This is particularly grotesque amidst a very real rise in antisemitism.”

Schwartz also accused Dutton for using antisemitism for political gain, claiming he has exploited a rise in antisemitic sentiment to promote his political agenda.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has reported a “massive increase” in antisemitic incidents since 7 October.

In its 2024 report the council gives examples of physical attacks such as rock throwing, vandalism of synagogues, Hitler salutes, and abusive graffiti and chants.

Of 2,062 incidents, 670 were posters or stickers, 393 were graffiti, 622 were verbal abuse and 65 were physical assaults.