The Government’s decision to establish a royal commission into antisemitism is the right one. I am grateful that it has listened to the calls from the community.
Given the scale of antisemitism and its impact on the Australian community, a full, wide-ranging and independent examination is warranted. The Jewish community, alongside the broader Australian community, has been calling for a process of this seriousness to ensure the facts are established, failures identified and accountability secured. Most importantly, this commission must lead to further action that pushes antisemitism to the margins.
The attack at Bondi did not occur in isolation. Antisemitism in Australia escalated sharply after 7 October 2023, but it did not begin there. In the months that followed October 7, we saw a sustained pattern of threats, intimidation and violence directed at Jewish Australians. There were warning signs before Bondi, signs including the display of terrorist flags, physical attacks and arson. It is essential these are examined so future loss of life is prevented.
A royal commission can provide answers that other processes cannot. It will be driven by facts, not conjecture. It must restore public confidence and ensure its recommendations carry the authority required to deliver real and lasting change.
At the same time, this commission does not pause or replace the ongoing work to combat antisemitism and extremism in Australia. My work as Special Envoy will continue, with a clear focus on prevention, education, institutional accountability and community safety. These efforts remain urgent and necessary.
Australians expect both truth about what happened at Bondi and sustained action to address the conditions that allow hatred and violence to take root. Both must proceed together.
I will work closely, where appropriate, with the Commissioner to ensure this royal commission delivers the outcomes Australians rightly expect.