E&OEÌý
SALLY SARA:ÌýA landmark report into racism at Australian universities has found that it is deeply embedded in the educational institutions. Of theÌý76,000 students and staff that took part in theÌýRacism@UniÌýstudy, more than 70Ìýper centÌýsaid they hadÌýeither experienced orÌýwitnessedÌýracist behaviour. Jewish and Palestinian students were the most affected with 90Ìýper centÌýreporting experiences of racism at university. From racist slurs to curtailedÌýcareers and racially biased evaluations,ÌýAustralia’sÌýRaceÌýDiscrimination CommissionerÌýGiridharan SivaramanÌýsays the report paints a grim picture of Australia’s tertiary education sector.Ìý
LukeÌýSheehyÌýis theÌýChiefÌýExecutiveÌýOfficerÌýof ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú and joins me now. Luke, welcome back to Radio National Breakfast.Ìý
LUKE SHEEHY:ÌýGoodÌýmorning, Sally.Ìý
SALLY SARA:ÌýWhat’sÌýyour reaction to this report?Ìý
LUKE SHEEHY:ÌýI think what we know is that 76,000 people, staff and students’ÌývoicesÌýshould be heard.ÌýIt’sÌývery troubling and sobering. We want to make sure that we continue to listen to not only those voices, but the voices of the university community. We know that racism is an issue on our university campuses,Ìýas it is right across the Australian community, but we’ve got an important role to play as public institutions and institutions of education to continue to work through to make sure that our campuses are places that are safe and inclusive and they don’t result in harm or a breach of a person’s human rights. Universities can play a role in combatting racism on behalf of the nation and want to continue theÌýgood workÌýthatÌýwe’veÌýdone over many years, but this report is an important moment for us to reflect and continue to listen. 76,000 peopleÌýshouldn’tÌýbe ignored, and we will look at the report,ÌýandÌýwe’llÌýcontinue to work with the Human Rights Commission,ÌýgovernmentÌýand our communities into the future.Ìý
SALLY SARA:ÌýAre you shocked by some of the findings?Ìý
LUKE SHEEHY:ÌýSally,ÌýI’mÌýalways shocked about people’s experiences at university. I had a wonderful experience at university, but clearly so many students find it difficult on our campuses as they do in the wider community, and I want to make sure we continue to listen to those voices and frankly, put in place support structures for our students and our staff alike. The report also shines a light on whatÌýwe’veÌýdone well across some of our universities, and I thinkÌýit’sÌýimportant that we continue to share that throughout our network of universities and look at ways we can support our students and our community. The other important part I think we should reflect on is our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community who for more than two centuries have experienced a unique form of racism in the Australian community, andÌýthat’sÌýnot immune on our campuses. We want to make sure that whatever we do next, their issues and their needs come at the centreÌýof that response.Ìý
SALLY SARA:ÌýJust briefly on a separate issue, in recent months, several universities have moved to slash arts degrees and faculties as enrolments dip for creative arts courses. What conversations have you been having with the government about the Morrison-eraÌýJob-readyÌýGraduatesÌýscheme?Ìý
LUKE SHEEHY:ÌýWe’reÌýlookingÌýat the prospect of students in an arts or humanities three-year degree paying more than $57,000 in the years ahead. This is a policy that the LaborÌýParty opposed in opposition, andÌýwe’veÌýhad two elections since this policy was introduced. ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú want to see this failed policy go.Ìý$50,000-plus degrees for arts and humanities and other disciplines puts up barriers to access university. We need to see more students go to university in the years ahead.ÌýThat’sÌýnot what universities are saying.ÌýIt’sÌýactually whatÌýthe Australian government said through its landmarkÌýUniversitiesÌýAccordÌýfinal report. We need to get rid of this unfair funding system and the unfair fees associated with it.ÌýIt’sÌýthe Australian government that sets the fees for Australian students in our universities, and we are on a campaign to get rid of this unfair system and replace it with something that is fair to accessÌýuniversity. We need fairer fees. Australian students already pay some of the highest fees in the world and $50,000 plus for an arts and humanities degree is simply unfair and we need to get rid of itÌýimmediately.Ìý
SALLY SARA:ÌýLuke, thank you very much for joining me this morning.Ìý
LUKE SHEEHY:ÌýGreat to be with you.Ìý
ENDSÌý
