The Albanese Government has announced it will establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion following the deadly terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in December, describing the inquiry as essential to national security, accountability and social unity.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the decision at a Canberra press conference yesterday, describing the 14 December attack as an antisemitic terrorist act inspired by ISIS that killed 15 people and wounded dozens more during a Chanukah gathering. He said it was the deadliest antisemitic attack ever carried out on Australian soil and an assault not only on Jewish Australians, but on the Australian way of life.
The Prime Minister said the Royal Commission would be formally recommended to the Governor-General at an Executive Council meeting, with former High Court justice Virginia Bell AC appointed as Commissioner. The decision was endorsed by Federal Cabinet and follows weeks of consultations with victims’ families, Jewish community leaders, security agencies and state governments.
The Royal Commission will examine four core areas: the nature, drivers and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia; measures to strengthen law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agency responses; the circumstances surrounding the Bondi Beach attack; and broader recommendations to strengthen social cohesion and counter ideologically and religiously motivated extremism.
Albanese said the inquiry would incorporate the work of the Richardson Review into national security agency performance, with an interim report due in April. The Commission is required to deliver its final report before 14 December 2026 and will be conducted in a way that does not prejudice current or future criminal proceedings.
“This is the right format, the right duration and the right terms of reference to deliver the right outcome for our national unity and our national security,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the Commission would complement, not replace, immediate government action on counterterrorism, hate speech and gun laws.
Since the attack, the Government has fast-tracked tougher gun control measures through National Cabinet, increased funding and resources for law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and committed to introducing new legislation to criminalise hate speech and hate preachers when Parliament resumes. Albanese said these steps were necessary but insufficient on their own.
“It’s clear to me that a Royal Commission is essential,” he said. “Australians need truth about what happened at Bondi and the root causes, and they expect sustained action to ensure it can never happen again.”
Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism Jillian Segal welcomed the announcement, saying it reflected the seriousness of the rise in antisemitism and its impact on Australia’s democracy. She said antisemitism had escalated sharply since the 7 October 2023 attacks in the Middle East, but warned it did not begin there.
“Bondi did not occur in isolation,” Segal said. “There were warning signs, and we must examine them so that something like this does not happen again to Jewish Australians or to any Australians.”
She said her work on prevention, education, institutional accountability and community safety would continue alongside the Commission, with a focus on pushing antisemitism to the margins of society.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the Royal Commission would provide an important opportunity for Jewish Australians to have their voices heard, while reinforcing the Government’s broader efforts to counter hate, radicalisation and violent extremism. She said the inquiry would commence as soon as practicable and be supported by the Attorney-General’s Department.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the structure of the Commission was designed to balance urgency with social cohesion. He said incorporating the Richardson Review ensured national security findings would not be delayed, while the Commission’s defined scope and timeframe would avoid unnecessarily prolonging trauma for affected communities.
“The Government has crafted a way to listen to families, act quickly on national security, and respect the need for social cohesion,” Burke said.
Albanese rejected claims the decision was politically motivated, saying it followed extensive listening and reflection. He said antisemitism was a national issue, not confined to New South Wales, and required a Commonwealth-level response.
“This is about healing, learning and coming together,” he said. “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on all Australians.”
The Royal Commission will operate alongside ongoing counterterrorism measures, education initiatives and national strategies to combat violent extremism. The Prime Minister said its ultimate purpose was not only accountability, but ensuring Australia remains a safe, cohesive and united society in the face of rising ideological hatred.
Image: Bondi Beach footbridge viewed from near the location where attackers were shot by police.
Credit: MSM
