Having heard mountains of evidence, the antisemitism royal commission now faces a huge challenge

Australia’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has ended its public hearings after months of evidence about antisemitism, extremism and the Bondi Beach terror attack.

The commission was established in January following the attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi on December 14 2025, which killed 15 people.

But its task is much broader than investigating just that attack.

It has been asked to examine the extent and causes of antisemitism in Australia.

This includes extremism and radicalisation, and how antisemitism affects Australian Jews.

It must also examine what governments and institutions can do about it.

The extensive, wide-ranging evidence has revealed a complicated, alarming story about antisemitism and hate in Australia’s institutions, workplaces and everyday life.

Who has the commission heard from? The commission opened in February and has since held nine blocks of public hearings between May and August.

By its final block, it had heard from 340 witnesses and received more than 20,000 submissions.

The witnesses reflect the commission’s broad task .

Australian Jews, including students, academics, teachers, healthcare workers, artists and many others, have described their experiences of antisemitism.

University leaders, politicians, community and religious organisations, police, intelligence officials and experts on extremism and social cohesion have also given evidence.

Some evidence about Bondi has been heard privately .

This is because it could affect national security or the criminal case against the surviving alleged attacker.