What to expect during antisemitism inquiry's final public hearings

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is set to conclude its ninth and final block of public hearings, with Commissioner Virginia Bell SC stating she will not seek an extension to the inquiry's due date. This deadline falls one year after the Bondi Beach terror attack, during which fifteen individuals lost their lives.

The final hearings will focus on how social cohesion can be better understood, measured, and strengthened within Australian communities. The inquiry has already heard from a range of witnesses, including Holocaust survivors, relatives of victims, and children who fear for their future as Jewish Australians. Intelligence and law enforcement professionals provided evidence on a confidential basis due to security concerns.

The commission will assess programs and initiatives already operating in Australia to promote safer, inclusive, and connected communities. Commissioner Bell emphasized the importance of empathy in fostering a diverse multicultural society, while the inquiry faces criticism over witness harassment and the selection of witnesses called to testify.