Royal Commission into anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion to hold first public hearings following Bondi terror attack
The Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Harmony will hold its first public hearings in Sydney next month.
The commission was officially opened in February, just a few months after the Bondi terror attack in which two gunmen allegedly killed 15 people celebrating a Jewish event on the beach and injured dozens more.
The hearings will take place from May 4 to 15 and will focus on the definition of antisemitism and the nature of historical and modern manifestations of antisemitism.
It will also hear from people with experience of antisemitism and its impact on Australian Jews.
The prevalence of antisemitism in Australian society and institutions will also be measured through incident reporting and survey data.
Commissioner Virginia Bell said it was vital to the Royal Commission’s work to hear directly from Australians who had experienced antisemitism first-hand.
“I want to thank the people who submitted applications to the Royal Commission and are prepared to share their stories with us,” he said.
Live coverage of the hearings will be available on the Royal Commission’s website and public seating will also be limited at the venue.
Members of the public and institutions are also invited to make submissions on all aspects of the Commission’s terms of reference via the website.
Last month Dennis Richardson resigned from his position as special adviser to the Royal Commission.
He was tasked with advising on materials sought to assess the effectiveness of intelligence and security agencies’ preparations to respond to a terrorist attack.
The study will be included in an interim report to be distributed later this month.
Ms Bell will submit her final report on December 14, the first anniversary of the anti-Semitic terror attack in Bondi last year.
