Anthony Albanese has announced the establishment of a Royal Commission into antisemitism after last month’s Bondi terror attack.
The Prime Minister announced the news at a press conference on Thursday.
“The people who were there at Bondi Beach on the 14th of December to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah in the embrace of family and faith should have been safe while they were doing that,” Albanese said. “Instead, they’ve had their lives and worlds shattered.”
He continued: “I’ve said repeatedly that our government’s priority is to promote unity and social cohesion, and this is what Australia needs to heal, to learn, to come together in a spirit of national unity and to go forward knowing that just like people who gathered that night on Bondi Beach were committing to that light will prevail over darkness.
“It’s clear to me that a royal commission is essential to achieving this…”
A later statement shared on the Prime Minster’s website confirmed that Former High Court Justice the Hon Virginia Bell AC will serve as Commissioner and the commission will cover four key areas:
- Tackling antisemitism by investigating the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society, and its key drivers in Australia, including ideologically and religiously motivated extremism and radicalisation.
- Making recommendations that will assist law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to tackle antisemitism, including through improvements to guidance and training within law enforcement, border control, immigration, and security agencies to respond to antisemitic conduct.
- Examining the circumstances surrounding the antisemitic Bondi terrorist attack on 14 December 2025.
- Making any other recommendations arising out of the inquiry for strengthening social cohesion in Australia and countering the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism in Australia.
The statement continues: “When Parliament returns the Government will also introduce new laws to criminalise hate speech and hate preachers, as well as deliver tougher gun laws. A Royal Commission is not the beginning or the end of what Australia must do to eradicate antisemitism, protect ourselves from terrorism or strengthen our social cohesion. That is an ongoing national effort, for all of us. Because an attack on Jewish Australians, is an attack on all Australians.”
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It is expected that Bell report to government before the end of the year.
It comes only weeks after Albanese announced a review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies. One of the gunmen in the attack, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, first came to the attention of Australia’s intelligence agency ASIO in 2019, Albanese confirmed last week. “He was examined on the basis of being associated with others and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.”
That review will be provided to the Government by the end of April 2026 and will be made publicly available.
