Bondi attack security failures under Royal Commission scrutiny

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will turn its attention to the security and intelligence failures surrounding the Bondi terrorist attack when its second block of public hearings begins this Sydney on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Hearing Block 2 will examine the circumstances of the 14 December 2025 attack at the Chanukah by the Sea event, including matters identified in the commission’s interim report as requiring further examination.

The attack, which targeted a Jewish community gathering at Bondi Beach on the first night of Chanukah, prompted the federal government to establish the Royal Commission on 9 January 2026. Former High Court justice Virginia Bell was appointed as commissioner.

The commission’s interim report was delivered to Governor-General Sam Mostyn and tabled in Parliament on 30 April 2026. It examined the circumstances surrounding the Bondi attack and made 14 recommendations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Commonwealth would adopt and implement all recommendations relevant to the federal government.

The second hearing block will focus on the terrorism threat level and security environment in the lead-up to the attack, as well as the conduct of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

The commission will examine what was known about the shooters before the attack, what was done with that information, and how intelligence about individuals known to authorities is used and shared across agencies.

That will include scrutiny of how intelligence informs decisions about whether individuals are monitored and how firearms licence applications are assessed.

The hearings will also examine the security arrangements for the Chanukah by the Sea event, resourcing for counter-terrorism, and the effectiveness of current powers, systems and processes used by security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Commissioner Bell said the commission’s work had been advanced by evidence from Jewish Australians and others during the first block of hearings.

“The work of the Royal Commission has been advanced by hearing from Jewish Australians and others about their experiences of antisemitism during hearing block 1, and we’re grateful to members of the community who are continuing to share their stories,” Bell said.

“Our focus now turns to the matters explored in the Interim Report, including the security arrangements for the Chanukah by the Sea event and resourcing for counter-terrorism.”

The first public hearing block was held in Sydney between 4 May and 15 May. It heard from Jewish Australians, community representatives, experts and others about the lived experience of antisemitism, its prevalence and its effect on schools, universities, workplaces, cultural life and public safety.

The Royal Commission said members of the public will be able to watch a livestream of the open hearings on its website.

However, substantial parts of Hearing Block 2 will be closed to the public to avoid prejudice to national security and criminal proceedings arising from the attack. Closed hearings will not be open to the public or livestreamed.

The first day of the second hearing block will be open to the public.

The Royal Commission is continuing to seek submissions from members of the public and institutions on all aspects of its terms of reference. Submissions will be accepted until Sunday, 14 June 2026.

The commission is due to deliver its final report by 14 December 2026, the first anniversary of the Bondi attack.