Our annual activities report for the year ended 2023 is now available.

(The financial report in the downloadable version is still pending final signoff.)

Highlights

OHPI published two major reports this year. 

Anti-Asian Racism in Social Media  was produced in partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission and Meta.

Online Antisemitism in Australia 2023 was produced as the first report in an ongoing partnership with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

In addition, a number of confidential reports were produced.

Exit Australia and New Zealand

Exit Australia and New Zealand, who have been redirecting people from violent extremism since 2015, has now become a project of OHPI. Its founder, Matthew Quinn, has become our new Director of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.

Fourteen public briefings were posted to the website

• Antisemitism at Adelaide University, 2 September 2022.
• Summit on Online Antisemitism in Washington DC, 22 September 2022.
• OHPI Presenting at Greek Government Conference, 6 October 2022.
• Twitter urged to adopt IHRA definition of antisemitism, 18 November 2022.
• Grieving mother subjected to violent threats from trolls, 25 November 2022.
• Twitter is a muppet, 1 December 2022.
• Discourse about The Kashmir Files results in Holocaust denial, 12 December 2022.
• Celebrating 11 years improving online safety, 23 January 2023.
• Daily Stormer not welcome in India, 24 January 2023.
• Holocaust Memorial Day 2023, 27 January 2023.
• IHRA definition and Nazi analogies, 25 February 2023.
• Melbourne’s Nazis highlight a bigger problem, 19 March 2023.
• Russian incitement to genocide, 16 April 2023.
• Banning Nazi Symbols in Australia, 1 May 2023.

Three of these briefings, Antisemitism at Adelaide University, Daily Stormer not welcome in India, and Melbourne’s Nazis highlight a bigger problem, are of particular significance as they played a part in OHPI working with others to combat hate speech. 

Engagement

OHPI has made submissions to the Australian Government regarding the banning of Nazi Symbols, and been appointed to an Australian Human Rights Commission working group on anti-racism, amongst other connections.

Internationally, OHPI has attended and presented at numerous international conferences and forums.

Media engagement and coverage

• Suzanne Rutland and Andre Oboler, “Countering violence, hatred and ignorance”, Australian Jewish News, 11 July 2022.
• Gareth Narunsky, “Online publisher removes student ‘Death to Israel’ article”, Australian Jewish News, 2 September 2022.
• Radio interview: L’Chaim – to life with Maurice Klein, “Dr Andre Oboler – Social media platforms’ hate speech prevention policy: see nothing, hear nothing and effectively do nothing”, 3ZZZ, 10 November 2022.
• Warren Barnsley, “Queensland mother heartbroken after trolls target son’s death in tragic workplace accident”, 7 News, 29 November 2022.
• TV interview: Dr Andre Oboler spoke during segment about rising hate on Twitter, ABC News 24, 8 December 2022.
• Andre Oboler, “Melbourne University has adopted IHRA antisemitism definition: This is why it’s the right decision”, Plus61J Media, 24 January 2023.
• Adeshola Ore, “Victoria to ban Nazi salute after ‘disgusting’ scenes at anti-trans protest”, The Guardian, 19 March 2023.
• George Hyde, “Why are neo-Nazis infiltrating public rallies in Australia?”, The New Daily, 20 March 2023.
• Andre Oboler, “Tackling our extremism problem”, J-Wire, 21 March 2023.
• Andre Oboler, “Swastika ban is not enough: anything that glorifies Nazism must be outlawed”, Plus61J Media, 24 March 2023.
• Mike Seacombe, “Social media versus the Voice”, 3 June 2023.
• Ben Schneiders and Simone Fox Koob, “‘Symbols of hate’: The lingering afterlife of Croatian fascism in Australia”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 June 2023.
• Tahney Fosdike, “Australia moves toward banning Nazi symbols in wake of neo-Nazi incidents”, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 14 June 2023.
• J-Wire Newsdesk, “Neo-Nazi marches discussed at IHRA meeting”, J-Wire, 16 June 2023.

Current work

Fundraising remains a necessary priority to ensure that the projects listed in the report can continue.

Social media comments related to online racism and the Voice to Parliament Referendum were monitored and collected in a partnership with Australian Human Rights Commission and Meta.

Online antisemitism continues to be monitored for a partnership with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Training programs are being developed for delivery to groups in New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Improved support for the Exit Project remains an important goal.

For more details of these activities, and others not mentioned here, download the report.