Education Minister Jason Clare has labelled a prestigious university's reinstatement of a student who declared unconditional support for Hamas inappropriate.
The Australian National University student successfully had her expulsion overturned on appeal after she spoke on ABC radio and called for people to back the designated terrorist group after its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
The university's vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell told a parliamentary inquiry on January 22 she wished the student hadn't said that, but the higher education institution sought to balance freedom of speech with psychological harm.
Asked on Tuesday if the reinstatement of the student was appropriate, Mr Clare replied "no".
"Whether it's at ANU or whether it's at QUT, there is absolutely no place for the poison of anti-Semitism in our universities or anywhere in this country or anywhere in the world," he told reporters in Jerrabomberra.
"That's why I've made it very clear to every university leader in the country that they must enforce their codes of conduct."
Professor Bell also told the inquiry into anti-Semitism on university campuses a "thorough" investigation into accusations students had displayed the Nazi salute and Hitler moustache online found the reported incidents had not happened.
This prompted outrage from members of the parliamentary committee, as a screenshot showed a student holding her finger to her nose, appearing to imitate a moustache.
Labor MP Josh Burns, the chair of the committee holding the inquiry, has called on former foreign minister and ANU chancellor Julie Bishop to reassess the ability of the university's leadership to manage anti-Semitism on campus, if it stands by the findings.
The Albanese government is under increasing pressure over its handing of escalating anti-Semitic incidents in Australia.
A synagogue and childcare centre have been firebombed, in addition to anti-Semitic slurs painted on buildings and cars in an increasing number of attacks since December.
