Overview

• At an interlocutory hearing before Justice Geoffrey Kennett, the university sought to strike parts of the claim tying it to an Overland article and two social posts by academic Nick Riemer.
• Barrister Robert Dick SC said the publications criticise Zionism as a political concept and should not be read as imputations about Jewish or Israeli people under section 18C.
• Applicants led by Joseph Toltz allege the comments offended and humiliated them and argue references to Zionists effectively refer to a majority of Jewish and Israeli people.
• Keane and Riemer are not parties to the university’s bid to summarily dismiss those passages, and the applicants’ lawyers were scheduled to respond later on Monday.
• A related case against journalist Mary Kostakidis recently had parts of its claim struck out, and supporters have raised nearly $150,000 to fund the academics’ defence.