Communal organisations thank witnesses as hearings conclude

Australia’s mainstream Jewish communal organisations have thanked the thousands of people who gave evidence and made submissions to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, as its final day of hearings began in Sydney on Wednesday.

While Australia’s Special Envy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal told The AJN on Wednesday morning, “My hope is that, as the Royal Commission concludes today, its work leads to lasting change and a safer future for Jewish Australians.”

The Jewish organisations said around 20,000 written submissions had been made and more than 200 people had given evidence across nine hearing blocks, including university students, teachers, small business owners, health workers, security staff and parents.

“We are proud that as a community we have done everything possible to put our experiences on the record,” they said in a joint statement, expressing hope it would lead to lasting change that reduced and over time eliminated the violence and hatred directed at Jewish Australians.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Peter Wertheim said the community had provided the most detailed account of Jewish life in Australia ever put before a public inquiry. “Australia is the only country in the world which has turned the spotlight on itself to examine its own record of antisemitism, and to do so with the seriousness of purpose that the issue clearly warrants,” he said. “The Commissioner has a great deal of evidence to weigh, and we trust her to do that carefully.”