'The people have spoken': Final hearing day of antisemitism royal commission

The royal commission into antisemitism concluded its final day of hearings, examining the circumstances surrounding the Bondi Beach terror attack on Hanukkah in 2025. The inquiry, which has heard from an extensive list of 346 witnesses and received over 20,000 submissions, was due to deliver its final report on December 14, the first anniversary of the attack.

However, Commissioner Virginia Bell requested a four-day extension to avoid detracting from commemorative activities. Witnesses included Chabad of Bondi director Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, Holocaust survivor Janina "Nina" Bassat, and Amar Singh, whose organization Turbans for Australia provided food to community members affected by the shooting.

The commission also received testimony from Marcus, an ex-ASIO agent who claimed he had warned intelligence agencies about the Bondi gunmen in 2019. Bell acknowledged that Marcus was overseas and had been refused a visa to return to Australia, but stated that the inquiry had been in contact with his solicitors to obtain potential evidence via a secure line.

Despite remaining questions about the inquiry's findings and effectiveness, Bell emphasized that the commission had access to ASIO reports and had questioned ASIO officers responsible for assessing the intelligence. The commission will now draft the final report and recommendations, with Bell committing to making substantial parts of the confidential volumes public following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.