Sydney Uni VC apologises to Jewish students and staff

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney has apologised to Jewish students and staff, admitting he "failed them" in his handling of a pro-Palestinian student encampment.

Professor Mark Scott was making a submission to the senate inquiry into antisemitism on university campuses, convened in response to encampments at several Australian universities earlier this year.

Asked if he had failed Jewish students and staff, Scott told the inquiry, “Yes, I have failed them and the university’s failed them.” 

But he said his university’s newly announced independent review was a “commitment to my leadership, the university’s leadership” and not a “failure” of his leadership over the pro-Palestine encampment protest.