Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a Commonwealth royal commission to investigate antisemitism and social cohesion in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney's Bondi Beach.
Scope and Leadership of the Inquiry
The inquiry, to be led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell, will examine four key areas. It will scrutinise the nature and prevalence of antisemitism within Australian institutions and society, including the drivers of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism.
It is also tasked with making recommendations to bolster the efforts of law enforcement, border control, and security agencies in countering antisemitism. A central pillar of the commission will be an examination of the circumstances surrounding the Bondi terror attack on 14 December, which left 15 people dead.
Finally, it will propose measures to strengthen social cohesion and halt the spread of extremist ideologies in Australia. The commission has been given a deadline to deliver its final report by 14 December this year.
How the Commission Will Operate
Justice Bell will be supported by former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson, whose previously announced intelligence review into the attack will now be incorporated into the royal commission. An interim report is expected in April.
Royal commissions possess extensive powers to summon witnesses and compel the production of documents. All state and territory governments have been asked to cooperate with the federal inquiry. Consequently, the New South Wales state royal commission announced last month by Premier Chris Minns will not proceed.
The Prime Minister stated that operational details, such as whether hearings will be public or private, will be determined by Commissioner Bell. He expressed confidence in her ability to navigate the process without prejudicing the ongoing criminal case against the alleged shooter, Naveed Akram, who faces 15 murder charges.
Addressing Concerns and Broader Implications
Mr Albanese, who had initially resisted calls for a royal commission, acknowledged weeks of sustained pressure from victims' families, the Jewish community, and members of his own parliamentary caucus. He defended the timing, stating the government needed to ensure the inquiry was correctly structured.
One of his stated concerns was that a commission might inadvertently platform extremist voices. To mitigate this, he said Bell has been instructed to conduct the inquiry in a manner that "doesn't undermine social cohesion".
The announcement marks a significant federal intervention into issues of hate crime, community safety, and national security, setting a one-year timeline for a comprehensive examination of antisemitism in Australia post-Bondi.
