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Public hearings begin in federal inquiry into antisemitism
Australia's most sweeping public investigation into antisemitism opened its doors on Tuesday, nearly three months after a gunman killed 15 people and wounded 40 in Sydney's Bondi Beach-Australia's deadliest mass shooting in decades.
Mandate and timeline
Led by retired High Court Justice Virginia Bell, the royal commission will map the scale and root causes of antisemitism across the country and propose policy changes to the federal government. An interim report is due by the end of April, with a final report slated for no later than 14 December 2026-the first anniversary of the attack.
"For some, closure will always remain out of reach. Yet this commission can offer one small step toward understanding what happened that evening,"
Virginia Bell, Commissioner
Scope of evidence
Bell invited Jewish Australians to share experiences of antisemitism in schools, universities, workplaces, or public spaces. Submissions can be made online, and no one will be compelled to testify in open session.
Senior counsel Richard Lancaster outlined four investigative pillars: defining antisemitic behaviour, tracing its drivers, evaluating law-enforcement responses, and reconstructing the Bondi attack-including the interactions between security agencies and the alleged gunmen.
Legal constraints and suspects
The commission must steer clear of evidence that could jeopardise the ongoing criminal case. Some sessions may therefore be held behind closed doors.
Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, survived critical injuries and was later moved from hospital to prison. He faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
Political reversal and broader reforms
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese initially opposed a federal inquiry, arguing it risked amplifying antisemitic rhetoric and undermining social cohesion. After persistent pressure from Jewish community leaders, affected families, and the opposition, he reversed course. A separate review of federal intelligence agencies, originally announced after the attack, has now been absorbed into the royal commission, and a planned New South Wales state inquiry was scrapped.
In parallel, the government has introduced stricter gun laws, tightened hate-speech regulations, and granted police broader powers to restrict protests.
Context of rising tensions
The commission convenes against a backdrop of heated national debate over Israel, Gaza, and antisemitism. Earlier this month, protests against a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog turned violent, with clashes between demonstrators and police. Herzog's trip, intended as a gesture of solidarity with Bondi victims' families, drew thousands of opponents who condemned his government's actions in Gaza.
