Australians are being urged to share their stories as the royal commission begins following the Bondi attack

Jewish Australians are being urged to share their ‘lived experiences of antisemitism’ as the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion began and set out the parameters of its inquiry.

In her opening address on Tuesday, Commissioner Virginia Bell said she sees the public inquiry into the Bondi terror attack, which killed 15 people, as a “starting point for strengthening our bonds of social cohesion”.

“Examining the ways in which we can strengthen social cohesion in Australia could be the work of years, not months,” she said during a live-streamed hearing.

Outlining the terms of reference, she said delivering her report on the first anniversary of the attack was “a matter of critical importance”.

Seeking to assess the impact of anti-Semitism on the “daily lives of Jewish Australians” as a first priority, she urged citizens to complete an online form or email, stressing that this “does not oblige anyone to give public testimony”.

“I am interested in hearing from Jewish Australians who have experienced anti-Semitism, whether at school or university, in the workplace or elsewhere,” Bell said.

Senior counsel representing Richard Lancaster acknowledged that the December attack left “severe psychological scars” and caused “tremendous trauma” for both those on the ground and members of the community, especially those living in Bondi.

“Social cohesion starts with empathy,” he said.

“A major part of this committee’s work will be to present evidence that enables a broader understanding of the scourge of antisemitism, its nature and pervasiveness in Australian society and its impact on the lives of fellow Australians.”

What then is the scope of the investigation?

What is a Royal Commission?

It is an independent, public inquiry established by a state or commonwealth government. In this case it was established by the Albanian government in January following opposition pressure and a number of public figures in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack that killed fifteen people, mostly Jewish Australians.

A royal commission is not a court of law, but allows complex issues to be examined in a public forum. Australia has held more than 100 federal royal commissions.

The Australian government defines a royal commission as “the highest form of inquiry into matters of public interest, conducted only in rare and exceptional circumstances”.

Former judge Ronald Sackville says royal commissions, unlike other inquiries, can force people and institutions to take part. In the past, former prime ministers and ministers have been forced to give evidence, for example in the Robodebt royal commission.

“They include the power to compel a witness to give evidence,” Sackville told SBS News earlier this year.

“And to do that, for example, without the protection of, for example, the privilege against self-incrimination. It also has the power to require individuals and agencies to provide written information on matters specified by the royal commission.”

What can we expect from this royal commission?

This research has a terms of reference that guides what it will investigate.

The December 14 anti-Semitic attack is a key focus: the lead-up and planning of the attack, and how agencies interacted and shared information, will be examined, as well as tools to prevent such attacks in the future.

It will examine the prevalence and drivers of anti-Semitism in institutions and society in the lead-up to the Bondi attack and how it has affected Jewish Australians and whether law enforcement, border control, immigration and security services have sufficient resources and powers to respond to anti-Semitic behaviour.

And while social cohesion is in the title of the inquiry, it will focus on asking the royal commission to make recommendations on how to strengthen social cohesion and “counter the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism in Australia”.

Lancaster stressed the committee will “examine ways to counter the spread of extremism in Australia”.

Public and private hearings are expected in the coming months, where people can share their experiences, or through written submissions.

Commission to use a controversial definition

Bell revealed the inquiry will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) anti-Semitism definition, which has been endorsed by Australian anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal.

The IHRA definition, finalized in 2016, states: “Anti-Semitism is a particular perception of Jews, which can be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed against Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, against Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The government was warned last year against legislating the definition, with critics including author Kenneth Stern claiming it is “weaponized” to pursue freedom of speech, including pro-Palestinian speech.

Bell said Tuesday that arguments against the definition often ignore the “requirement to consider the general context in which conduct occurs before determining that the conduct is anti-Semitic.”

She added that while two of the 11 examples of behavior associated with the definition were controversial, “criticism of the policies that the Government of Israel may implement from time to time is not in itself anti-Semitic.”

What are the complications?

The royal commission is expected to function separately A criminal case is underway against the alleged gunman accused of the Bondi attack – Naveed Akramwho faces 59 charges, including murder and terrorism offences.

While this could complicate matters for the royal commission, it has been instructed to avoid cases in a way that does not prejudice current or future criminal proceedings.

Deirdre O’Neill, a public policy expert at Monash University, said it was likely that some evidence would be confidential, for example from domestic spy agency ASIO.

“It will obviously have to respect the need for some matters to remain confidential. So it … cannot make everything public in that sense,” she told SBS News.

“So I think that the royal commissioner would be acutely aware of these kinds of issues and sensitivities, and that the royal commission would be conducted in a way that would not compromise the integrity of… very, very sensitive matters held by ASIO or other agencies.

When will there be an outcome?

The commissioner and staff will submit an interim report by April 30, 2026, which will focus on “issues that require urgent or immediate action,” Lancaster said.

A final report is expected on December 14, 2026 – timed for the first anniversary of the Bondi massacre.

The final report typically contains recommendations to be adopted as policy and may include referrals to prosecutors if there is evidence of criminal activity.

O’Neill said this royal commission has the potential to make a “really important contribution” to anti-Semitism.

‘What a royal commission ultimately does is make recommendations to the government.

“So the royal commissioner can’t change the laws and can’t make decisions on these things herself, but she can make a strong case and make clear recommendations about what actions should be taken, and that’s where royal commissions can make a really important contribution to, you know, to public policy and to issues like anti-Semitism, other important issues that society faces.”

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