'Hate speech, antisemitism, and harassment have no place at our University'
The University of Sydney has fired a staff member who was filmed verbally lashing out at a group of Jewish students in October.
In a statement, the university said the staff member was terminated on the grounds of serious misconduct.
"This decision followed careful consideration in line with our clear expectations of behaviour and our obligation to make sure our campuses are safe and welcoming for all," said the university.
"Hate speech, antisemitism, and harassment have no place at our University and when our codes of conduct are breached we do not hesitate to take disciplinary action."
The termination followed the suspension that the staff member received for calling a group of Jewish students "disgusting" and "depraved."
"Are you a Zionist?" the staff member asked in the video, which was reported by ABC News in October. "In your name, they're shredding children bit to bit ... you should be making it stop."
"You're disgusting," she later added. "You are depraved... you are depraved baby-killers."
The university said it has apologised to the students and staff who were affected by the incident, noting that free and confidential wellbeing support is available to those who need it.
"We've introduced significant reforms since the disbandment of the protest encampment on campus last year and have seen the number of complaints related to antisemitism decline substantially," the university added.
"We continue to work on making our campus safe for all and if our codes are breached, we do not hesitate to take disciplinary action."
Antisemitic incidents in Australia
The university's statement comes a day after a shooting incident targeting a Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park beside Bondi Beach on Sunday, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 40 others, local media reported.
Antisemitic incidents in Australia remain at "historically high levels," with 1,654 anti-Jewish incidents recorded between October 2024 and September 2025, according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).
"We are now at a stage where anti-Jewish racism has left the fringes of society, where it is normalised and allowed to fester and spread, gaining ground at universities, in arts and culture spaces, in the health sector, in the workplace and elsewhere," said Daniel Aghion, president of ECAJ, in a statement.
"In such an environment, Jews have legitimate concerns for their physical safety and social well-being in Australia. Together, we must do all we can to combat this scourge."
