Queensland university apologises for ‘hurt’ and ‘offence’ caused at anti-racism event

Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Prof Margaret Sheil says she is sad the backlash ‘overshadowed’ the event, particularly as it related to the Indigenous experience. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The head of the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has issued an “unreserved apology” for events at an anti-racism symposium last month that caused offence, adding the institute behind it would “not be holding events like this in the future”.

Appearing before a federal parliamentary inquiry into antisemitism on university campuses on Wednesday, the vice-chancellor of QUT, Prof Margaret Sheil, was grilled over why the event went ahead despite concerns from community members about alleged “anti-Jewish” speakers.