A powerful government-backed inquiry in Australia, which can compel people to give evidence, has started its investigation into antisemitism following the Bondi Beach shooting that killed 15 people.
In her opening remarks on Tuesday at the first public hearing of the royal commission into antisemitism, commissioner Virginia Bell said she saw the inquiry as the "starting point to strengthening our bonds of social cohesion".
The commission will investigate the extent and underlying causes of antisemitism and the events and planning of the attack on 14 December 2025. The hearing was live-streamed on Tuesday.
The commission on the opening day did not hear public evidence but instead set out the scope of the inquiry and how the proceedings would unfold.
“The commission needs to investigate the security arrangements for that event and to report on whether our intelligence and law enforcement agencies performed to maximum effectiveness,” Ms Bell, who is a former High Court Justice, said.
"I'm interested in hearing from Jewish Australians who've experienced antisemitism, whether at school or at university or in the workplace or elsewhere," she added.
The royal commission was established in response to the deadly mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach which left 15 people dead and many injured. It was one of the deadliest mass killings in Australia’s history.
Police allege the perpetrators were inspired by terror group Isis, and the attack intensified concerns about antisemitism, security failures, and how Australia deals with rising hate-motivated violence.
The commission is expected to submit an interim report by 30 April, and the final report by 14 December 2026, on the anniversary of the attack.
As it is an ongoing criminal proceeding against one suspect, the royal commission will hold back some evidence, especially intelligence material, and manage it differently to avoid prejudice to trials. It could also mean that some hearings are conducted behind closed doors.
“One might expect that a royal commission set up to inquire into an attack would lead evidence of it and of the heroism of those who sought to confront the shooters and of those who ran towards the gunfire to offer medical assistance to the wounded,” the former high court justice said.
“An individual has been charged with a terrorism offence and with 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of attempted murder arising out of the attack.
“The trial of that individual will be the occasion to lead evidence of the attack. This commission must do its work without risking any prejudice to that criminal proceeding.”
The attack was carried out by father-son duo Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram. The father was shot dead by police at the scene of the shootings and the son was critically injured and now facing trial after transferred from the hospital to prison.
Ms Bell said she plans to meet with victims' families in private to explain some of the limitations of her inquiry.
Richard Lancaster, the top lawyer assisting Ms Bell with the inquiry, said his team had sent dozens of requests to government and other agencies to produce documentary evidence, but the level of responses are "not presently where we would like it to be".
He said December's attack left "serious psychological scars", leaving "immense trauma" for victims, those at the scene and members of the community.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese had initially resisted calls to set up a royal commission, saying the process would take years, which attracted criticism from Jewish groups and victims' families.
In the immediate aftermath of the shootings, Mr Albanese ordered a review by a former spy chief into the actions of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, saying this – along with a New South Wales royal commission – was the appropriate response and warning that a federal inquiry could amplify antisemitic hate speech.
However, amid sustained pressure from prominent Jewish leaders, affected families and the opposition, he reversed course.
The federal review will now be absorbed into the royal commission, and the NSW inquiry has been scrapped.
The Bondi attack came after a wave of antisemitic incidents across the country, including the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne.
Earlier this month, a visit by Israeli president Isaac Herzog promoted widespread protests which turned violent as police and protesters clashed. The Israeli leader arrived on invitation of Mr Albanese. Police was accused of using excessive force with dozens of arrests made.
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