Having heard mountains of evidence, the antisemitism royal commission now faces a huge challenge
By its final block, the commission had heard from more than 300 witnesses and received more than 20,000 submissions. The evidence paints a concerning picture.
After months of evidence presented to the Australian Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, it faces a major challenge. Established following the Bondi Beach terror attack which killed 15 people on December 14, 2025, the commission was tasked with examining the extent and causes of antisemitism in Australia. This includes examining extremism, radicalization, and the impact antisemitism has on Australian Jews, as well as what governments and institutions can do about it.
At the commission's final public hearing in August, it had heard from 340 witnesses and received over 20,000 submissions. These witnesses represent the broad scope of the commission's task, with Australian Jews, university leaders, politicians, community and religious organizations, police, intelligence officials, and experts on extremism and social cohesion sharing their experiences.
The evidence covered three main themes: how institutions have responded to antisemitism, whether the Bondi attack could have been prevented, and how Australia can better protect social cohesion. Australian Jews have reported increased abuse and exclusion in universities, schools, workplaces, healthcare settings, cultural organizations, and online environments. Security has become a part of everyday life for some Jewish communities, with some institutions facing significant increases in security costs.
The commission has also explored why these discriminatory experiences are occurring, with a key factor being the conflation of Jewish identity with Israeli policies and the war in Gaza. Critics argue that holding all Australian Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli government contributes to the problem. However, the commission has been unable to establish a direct link between security failures and the Bondi attack, which raises questions about what authorities could have reasonably known and done before the incident.
The commission's findings highlight three levels of prevention: the broader social level, targeted programs to prevent extremism, and intelligence gathering and information sharing for credible threats. As the commission prepares its final report, it must find a balance between addressing antisemitism and maintaining social cohesion in Australia.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
