Royal Commission on Antisemitism Holds Final Hearings Ahead of One-Year Report Deadline
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is concluding its public hearings after hearing roughly 300 witnesses and reviewing more than 20,000 submissions, with a final report due before the first anniversary of the Bondi Beach attack.
On the final day of its public sessions, the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion wrapped up testimony from about 300 witnesses after receiving over 20,000 written submissions. Led by Commissioner Virginia Bell, the inquiry focused on the December 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah gathering. Prominent witnesses included Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, whose son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger was among the victims, Holocaust survivor Janina 'Nina' Bassat, and Multicultural NSW CEO Joseph La Posta discussing the One Mitzvah for Bondi kindness initiative.
The commission also heard from Amar Singh of Turbans for Australia and representatives of the Dor Foundation. Hearings have been held mainly in Sydney and Melbourne, with visits to Jewish communities in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. Calls for a longer timeline came from Liberal MP Julian Leeser, while Alex Ryvchin of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry stressed the importance of preventing future hate-fueled tragedies. The final report, promised by December 14, 2026, will contain the commission's recommendations on combating antisemitism and fostering social cohesion.
Why it matters
The commission's findings will shape Australia's response to antisemitism and aim to prevent repeat terror attacks.
In this story
