A significant antisemitism inquiry, initiated following a fatal terror incident at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, has commenced its initial round of public hearings. The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is conducting the hearings in Sydney until the end of the week. Commissioner Virginia Bell, a former High Court judge, is overseeing the hearings, focusing on exploring the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia and gathering testimonies from individuals who have experienced antisemitism firsthand.
The inquiry’s subsequent phases will delve into the circumstances surrounding the Bondi attack in late May and investigate the potential radicalization stemming from online hate and antisemitism on social media during the third phase. Recently, Commissioner Bell released an interim report containing 14 recommendations, with five undisclosed due to national security concerns. The report emphasizes the need for federal, state, and territory governments to prioritize the implementation of consistent firearms laws and a gun buyback program to eliminate surplus and illegal firearms from society.
Prompted by a tragic mass shooting targeting a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in December 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese established the inquiry in January. The attack, which resulted in 15 fatalities, was allegedly carried out by Naveed Akram, who faces charges of murder and terrorism, purportedly driven by Islamic State ideology. Naveed’s father, Sajid Akram, another alleged perpetrator, was killed at the scene. The royal commission will refrain from scrutinizing the attack’s intent and motivation to prevent influencing ongoing legal proceedings and aims to issue its final report by the attack’s first anniversary.
