Explainer: What you need to know

The government established the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack to inquire into the causes of the extremism and antisemitism that led to the attack.

A Royal Commission is the highest level of inquiry in Australia. It is an independent and public inquiry for matters of national importance.

Antisemitism has become more visible, organised and normalised in Australian society, contributing to the most deadly terrorist attack on Australian soil in our nation’s history. This issue affects not just the Jewish community but all Australians.

What it is

A Royal Commission is an independent, fact-finding, evidence-based public inquiry with significant powers of inquiry, and can compel evidence and produce public reports.

It is not a court, a police investigation, or a ministerial review. It cannot make new laws or compel the government to do anything, but its recommendations carry significant influence.

Royal Commissions produce a public report to the government setting out their findings and recommendations for change. The government usually provides a formal response explaining how it will then act on those findings and recommendations.

Why it is needed

Antisemitism has become more visible, organised and normalised in Australian public life than ever before. This contributed to the deadliest terrorist attack on Australian soil in history at Bondi Beach. Australians deserve an independent public inquiry into what happened and how we can reduce the risk of it happening again.

What it will focus on

The scope of the Royal Commission is set out in its terms of reference, and includes inquiring into:

• Antisemitism, its nature and prevalence, its impact on the Jewish community and social cohesion, and how to respond to it

• Improving the law enforcement, border control, immigration, and security agencies’ response to antisemitism

• Circumstances surrounding the Bondi Beach attack.

The Royal Commission can also make recommendations to strengthen social cohesion and counter the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism, arising from its inquiry into the above.

How long it will run

The Royal Commission has been asked to report back by December 14, 2026. It has also been asked to submit an interim report into the circumstances of the Bondi Beach attack by April 30, 2026.

Addressing misinformation about antisemitism in Australia

Some critics try to minimise the seriousness of antisemitism in Australia and claim that it has not increased. However, the data shows that it has. ECAJ’s latest report on antisemitism (released in early December 2025, before the Bondi Beach attack) showed antisemitic incidents in Australia were at historically high levels, at almost five times the average annual number before October 7, 2023.

It was needed

Some have claimed that a Royal Commission was not needed because the NSW government had planned to establish a state-level Royal Commission (now cancelled) and the government had established a review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies’ actions by Dennis Richardson (now part of the Royal Commission’s work).

Neither of these other responses had a broad enough scope at the federal level to adequately look into the underlying causes of the attack.

Criticism of Israel

Some conspiracy theories are circulating that the Royal Commission will criminalise criticism of Israel. The Royal Commission is looking into antisemitism and systemic failure to address it in Australia, not foreign policy. It has no power to criminalise or police opinions.

Some are claiming the Royal Commission will recommend the government adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. However, the Australian government already adopted the IHRA definition several years ago, in 2021. The IHRA definition is an educational tool, not a criminal code. It does not prevent criticism of Israel and explicitly states “criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic”.

Who runs it

The Royal Commission is led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell. Justice Bell is a senior jurist who has served on Australia’s highest court and led a significant public inquiry.

There are conspiracy theories that government or the Jewish community are running the Royal Commission and have pre-determined its outcome. The government established the Royal Commission, but it is independent and has significant powers of its own. It is not run by the Jewish community either, but Jewish community organisations and members will be able to make submissions, just like any member of the Australian public.

Special treatment

Some have claimed the Jewish community is getting special treatment. Royal Commissions are established to look into significant systemic issues, in the interests of all Australians. Many groups and sectors have been the subject of Royal Commissions in recent years.

This is an edited version of the explainer that can be found at ecaj.org.au/explainer-royal-commission-on-antisemitism-and-social-cohesion. The ECAJ article will be updated as the Royal Commission progresses.