Full Breakdown
Masked Intrusion, Private Investigations and a Royal Commission: The University of Melbourne Case
7/14/2026, 8:13:45 AM
The Incident and Testimony
On 9 October 2024, about 20 masked protesters entered the physics building at the University of Melbourne and occupied Professor Steven Prawer’s office for several hours. Prawer, an observant Jew and Zionist who heads a research collaboration with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said the intruders accused him of “supporting genocide in Gaza” and linked his work to Israeli defence. He told the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion that he was unsure whether the event was a protest or “a terrorist attack.”
During the commission’s fourth hearing block, Prawer described the experience as “highly intimidating and very disruptive, not just to me, but the staff that were in the office and even the staff that were outside of the office.” He added that he has since installed home-security cameras and requires permanent security at work.
Background & Context
The Royal Commission, chaired by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell, began hearings in May 2024 to examine lived experiences of antisemitism on Australian university campuses. The October 2024 protest at Melbourne was one of several campus actions that followed the October 7 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Gaza war. The commission’s focus this week has shifted from individual testimonies to institutional responses, with vice-chancellors from the University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, Australian National University and Monash University slated to appear.
Key Figures & Groups
- Steven Prawer – Physics professor, University of Melbourne; research partner with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Commonwealth Defence Science and Technology Organisation.
- Duncan Maskell – Vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne in 2024, who described the protest as “shocked and appalled.”
- Glyn Davis – Interim vice-chancellor, scheduled to testify the following day.
- Jeremy Suss – President of the Australasian Union of Jewish Students, critic of university handling of antisemitism.
- Jason Clare – Federal Education Minister, announcing new anti-racism standards for universities.
Official Statements & Responses
The University of Melbourne’s spokesperson affirmed that the institution “is providing ongoing support to Professor Prawer and we uphold his right to pursue his academic endeavours and research partnerships without being harassed or intimidated.” The same statement added that the university “stands united in our continued efforts to eradicate hate and discrimination in all forms.”
Education Minister Jason Clare told Sky News that the new standards, which took effect on 12 July 2026, will require universities to adopt recognised definitions of antisemitism, implement transparent complaints processes and face possible fines for non-compliance.
Criticism & Opposition
Professor Prawer described the university’s investigation as “opaque,” noting that four students were disciplined but their identities were never disclosed to him. He said two expulsions were later reduced on appeal, yet the university “still won’t make a statement about what the penalties were, what the findings were.”
A petition signed by 150 university staff in *Overland* defended the protest and opposed student discipline, prompting Prawer to call the response “truly horrified.” Jeremy Suss argued that many universities “have the tools to solve a lot of these issues” but “delay” and “discredit reports of incidents.”
Data & Statistics
- Four students were initially charged with misconduct; two were expelled and two suspended for a year.
- After appeal, the expulsions were reduced, and the suspensions were set to end within a week of the commission hearing.
- A petition supporting the protest gathered 150 signatures from university employees and affiliates.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I had no idea at that stage if it was a protest, if it was a terrorist attack,” — Steven Prawer
- “Your work will break your soul before it breaks the resistance” — Protester’s slogan on a noticeboard (quoted by Prawer)
- “It certainly was highly intimidating and very disruptive, not just to me, but to the staff that were in the office and even the staff that were outside of the office.” — Steven Prawer
- “My disappointment is the university still won't make a statement about what the penalties were, what the findings were,” — Steven Prawer
- “There is no place for antisemitism or any type of hate in our universities or anywhere else," Mr Clare said.” — Education Minister Jason Clare
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the final disciplinary outcomes: one account states the two expulsions were reduced on appeal, while another notes the university has not disclosed the revised penalties. Additionally, the identities of the “10 to 15” protesters who were never identified remain unknown, a point Prawer emphasized as a personal security concern.
What’s Next
The Royal Commission will hear from interim vice-chancellor Glyn Davis (University of Melbourne) and other senior university leaders later this week. The commission’s findings are expected to inform the implementation of the new anti-racism standards announced by Minister Clare, including potential enforcement actions by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
