At a parliamentary inquiry examining setting up a commission of inquiry into anti-Semitism at university campuses, Jillian Segal said a probe of racism more broadly would not help Jewish students avoid vilification.
The proposed commission of inquiry - pushed by Liberal senator Sarah Henderson - would have identical powers to a royal commission.
The Australian Human Rights Commission is already studying the impact of racism at universities, with a number of institutions suggesting it was a more appropriate avenue for action given a probe should include all forms of religious intolerance.
Jillian Segal said confidentially was a key reason why a commission of inquiry was more appropriate. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)
But Ms Segal, who said interviews with a number of Jewish students had revealed "quite a crisis" at campuses, said the AHRC's inquiry should inform a long-term approach rather than shaping urgent action.
"Anti-Semitism, and you might think this is rather arrogant of me, but I do believe it is a special form of racism, and is different to other forms of racism," she told parliament.
"A generalised approach in relation to tackling racism doesn't really deal with anti-Semitism, you need to have a very focused approach."
Ms Segal said her office had been inundated with students who experienced anti-Semitism and did not feel comfortable lodging complaints with their institutions for fear of repercussions.
She said the ability to give evidence confidentially was a key reason why a commission of inquiry was a more appropriate avenue than the AHRC investigation.
"I'm in no way suggesting senior chancellors or vice-chancellors are themselves embedded anti-Semites, but they don't appreciate what's going on," Ms Segal said.
"They have systems in place for ensuring that things are dealt with, and they are really not aware of the extent of the embedded seriousness of anti-Semitism … that will come out in a judicial commission where students can give evidence confidently and in private."
In July, Senator Henderson suggested university authorities had "consistently failed" to deal with the issue both before and after Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel.
The Group of Eight, which represents the largest universities in Australia, earlier submitted the proposed inquiry was too narrow.
"As this is a whole of society issue, it will take a whole of society effort to address … the narrow scope of the bill misses the opportunity to take a genuine look at the causes and drivers endangering our social cohesion," Go8 CEO Vicki Thomson wrote in her submission.
"(Any inquiry should) be broadened in scope to incorporate all forms of racial or religious intolerance and include universities, the media, schools and other key components of broader society."
The Australian Centre of Jewish Civilisation at Monash University's director said the proposed commission might just replicate existing work and could do more harm than good.
"A commission of inquiry may be seen to run the risk of politicising anti-Semitism with a focus on recrimination rather than on solutions … I therefore recommend that the government focuses on supporting existing mechanisms," David Slucki wrote in his submission.
Ms Segal was appointed special envoy to combat anti-Semitism on July 9, where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised he would also select someone to target Islamophobia.
That role is yet to be filled.
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