Antisemitism royal commission holds first public hearing

The royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion held its first public hearing at 10:30am in Sydney today.

Commissioner Virginia Bell, a former High Court judge, opened proceedings by outlining the inquiry’s approach, emphasising the need to address antisemitism in the Australian community while working expeditiously within a tight timeframe.

Bell stressed the importance of delivering the final report by 14 December 2026, the first anniversary of the Bondi Beach terror attack, stating that this deadline imposed limitations on the commission’s scope.

She confirmed the inquiry would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism, describing it as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews,” and noted that two of the IHRA’s eleven examples have been criticised by some, but that criticism of Israeli government policies is not inherently antisemitic.

To avoid prejudicing the criminal trial of Naveed Akram who was charged with terrorism offences, 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder following the 14 December 2025 attack at Bondi Beach, the commission will not examine key details of the attack itself, which will be addressed in the criminal proceedings.

Senior Counsel Assisting Richard Lancaster confirmed the commission “will not interfere with the administration of justice or otherwise prejudice that prosecution.” Bell plans private meetings with victims’ families to explain these constraints.

Lancaster described the Bondi event as truly horrifying, causing immense trauma, and highlighted social cohesion as rooted in empathy, democracy, freedom and the rule of law in a multicultural society.

Lancaster said Counsel Assisting would examine four broad topics: examples of antisemitism from the lived experience of Jewish Australians; the drivers of antisemitism, including ideological and religious extremism and radicalising content; far-right groups; and how to counter the spread of antisemitism in Australia. The commission will also examine the work of law enforcement and security agencies before and during the attack.

No witnesses were called and no evidence was taken on the opening day, which focused on process and scope. Public submissions remain open, with an interim report due by 30 April 2026.

Bell also noted that the commission’s focus on antisemitism was intended as a starting point for strengthening broader social cohesion, and that religious intolerance and ethnic prejudice affecting other groups would also be relevant context. She expressed particular interest in hearing from Jewish Australians who have experienced antisemitism “whether at school, at university, in the workplace or elsewhere”.

The Royal Commission was established on 9 January 2026, when the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, issued Letters Patent. All states and territories have been asked to join the commission. The inquiry also incorporates the work of the Dennis Richardson Independent Commonwealth Review into federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, whose interim findings will feed into the commission’s April report.

“I acknowledge the importance of addressing antisemitism within the Australian community … I plan to conduct the inquiry as expeditiously as possible,” Bell said.

Jewish advocacy groups have widely welcomed the royal commission, including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, which described it as “the only way that Australia’s time-honoured standards of decency and fairness can be upheld”.

Earlier today, major Jewish organisations announced a unified approach to engaging with the royal commission. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), along with the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Zionist Federation of Australia, National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, The Dor Foundation and Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, jointly appointed the law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL) to represent them.

The groups described themselves as representing Australia’s mainstream Jewish community at national and state levels.

The announcement underscored the royal commission’s significance in the wake of the Bondi attack, an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack that targeted approximately 1,000 people celebrating Hanukkah at the famous Sydney beach, which laid bare the human cost of hatred amid rising antisemitism since 7 October 2023.

Jewish Australians have faced firebombings, harassment, doxxing, attacks on synagogues, threats to institutions and escalating hate speech. The statement by Jewish bodies referenced a vehicle ramming into the gates of Brisbane Synagogue on 20 February 2026, where a 32-year-old man was charged with wilful damage as a hate crime.

Antisemitism was described as affecting everyday life, from feeling safe wearing a Star of David to sending children to Jewish schools or gathering confidently.

The groups affirmed that Jewish Australians seek the same freedoms and security as every Australian, without needing armed guards or hiding their identity. History warns that unchecked antisemitism damages civic fabric and signals broader social and democratic decline, positioning it as an attack on Australia’s pluralism.

The statement concluded that the royal commission’s work matters for Jewish Australians and the nation’s overall strength, safety, cohesion and unity. This coordinated representation aims to ensure the community’s voices and experiences are presented effectively to the inquiry.

No date has been set for the next public sitting, with further hearings to be scheduled as soon as practicable to meet the final reporting deadline of 14 December 2026. The public is encouraged to submit evidence and subscribe for updates via the commission’s website.