Australia's Royal Commission begins hearings on Bondi Beach antisemitism inquiry

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, chaired by former High Court judge Virginia Bell, commenced its first block of public hearings in Sydney on May 4, 2026. The inquiry follows the December 14, 2025 Bondi Beach Hanukkah mass shooting that killed 15 people and was allegedly carried out by Naveed Akram with alleged Islamic State links.

Witnesses include Sheina Gutnick, daughter of victim Reuven Morrison, who warned of “unprecedented” hostility toward Jews, community leaders, a Holocaust survivor, and academics such as Dennis Altman. More than 5,700 public submissions have been received, describing a surge in antisemitic incidents after the Israel‑Hamas war began in October 2023.

The initial hearings will examine the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia. A second block later in May will probe the circumstances of the Bondi attack, and a third will address online hate and radicalisation. Bell’s interim report earlier this month made 14 recommendations, including national gun‑law reforms, tighter security for Jewish events and broader counter‑terrorism measures, all of which the Albanese government says it will adopt. The commission is due to deliver its final report on December 14, 2026, exactly one year after the attack.