Australian envoy’s antisemitism plan criticised as ‘Trumpian’ over concerns changes could be used to silence dissent

Peak Jewish groups and Universities Australia have backed Jillian Segal’s recommendations, while others have criticised it as a ‘clear attack’ on education. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

The antisemitism envoy’s recommendations to remove funding from universities, charities and cultural bodies if they promote or fail to act against antisemitism have sparked concerns among academics and peak bodies that funding could be weaponised to censor opinion and silence dissent.

Jillian Segal’s 20-page plan, released on Thursday, made a series of sweeping recommendations, including launching a “university report card” and withholding government funding from universities, cultural institutions and festivals that “facilitate, enable or fail to act against antisemitism” – a move she later clarified was a “last resort”.