Update: the Final Report of the People's Inquiry has been published.

In February 2025, a coalition of students and academics, with the support of Senator Mehreen Faruqi, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network and the National Union of Students, launched a People’s Inquiry into Campus Free Speech on Palestine. The Inquiry was formed in response to students and staff at universities across the country being silenced for speaking up for Palestine.

A Preliminary Report was released in June 2025, and public hearings were held in Sydney, Melbourne, and online. The Final Report draws on testimony from these three public hearings, as well as over 150 written submissions from more than 20 universities. It finds that there has been widespread restriction on free speech and academic freedom across Australian universities, with university managements using existing and newly devised policies in an opaque way to censor students and staff expressing support for Palestine.

The evidence drawn on by the Report is extensive and shows serious cases of discrimination, silencing, surveilling, and disciplining of staff and students engaged in pro-Palestine activism, with some of the most severe instances directed at Arab, Muslim, and Jewish students.

About the People's Inquiry

This inquiry was established in response to concerns that the rights of freedom of speech and assembly on Australian university campuses have come under challenge in recent years. Students, university staff, and the general public may be affected by these restrictions. 

These concerns became particularly acute in the period following the last outbreak of war in Gaza, which led to a resurgence of protest activity on university campuses. Some universities banned certain phrases and words associated with the conflict, and others carried out severe discipline against students who have spoken up or protested in defence of Palestine. 

The Inquiry sought to investigate freedom of speech as relates to Palestine across Australian university campuses, with the aid of submissions from the public. The inquiry was modelled on other peoples’ inquiries, and was designed with input by experts with experience in inquiries into the rights of asylum seekers in Australia and the role of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. More information on the scope and aims of the inquiry can be found in the Terms of Reference. More information about the panel members can be found here.

Preliminary Report

The People’s Inquiry into Campus Free Speech on Palestine published an Interim Report outlining some preliminary findings from the over 150 submissions from university staff and students across the country detailing their experiences of censorship, harassment, and intimidation on the basis of their speech or actions in support of Palestine.

Students and staff expressing support for Palestine have been targeted for surveillance, including eavesdropping on classroom discussion through lecture recording equipment and tracking of students through their use of university Wi-Fi. University events related to Palestine, including talks given by distinguished guest speakers and film screenings, have been cancelled or disrupted with no explanation. 

In all, the actions of university managements across the country have turned campuses into hostile environments for discussion and activism on the question of Palestine. The Preliminary Report was been published and accompanied by a press statement from the office of Sen. Mehreen Faruqi which you can find here.

How did it work? 

This inquiry was open for written submissions from the public in early 2025. Public hearings were held in July 2025. Submissions were assessed by the panel,  members of which can be found here. 

Questions can be addressed to contact@palestineinquiry.com.