Last updated:
Submission Statistics
Total Submissions Received
7,500+
As of 4 May 2026
↑ ~2,000 last 7 days
Submissions — Past Week
~2,000
Surge in final submission period
35% of total volume
Identified as Jewish
4,000+
of all submitters (as of 30 Apr)
~70% of total
Non-Jewish Submitters
1,000+
Did not identify as Jewish (as of 30 Apr)
Remainder: prefer not to say
Geographic & Demographic Breakdown
Submissions by State / Territory
NSW
47%
VIC
30%
Other
23%
NSW & VIC volumes reflect Australia's largest Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne.
Submitter Identity — as of 30 Apr
- Identified as Jewish 4,000+ (≈70%)
- Non-Jewish 1,000+ (≈18%)
- Prefer not to say ~700 (≈12%)
Interim Report, Hearings & Timeline
Interim Report — 14 Recommendations (30 Apr 2026)
Focus: Counter-terrorism & the Bondi attack (14 Dec 2025). Government accepted all Commonwealth-applicable recommendations.
1
NSW Police Operation Jewish High Holy Days procedures to be extended to other high-risk Jewish festivals and public-facing events nationally.
✓ Accepted
✓ Accepted
2
Commonwealth & states to prioritise finalising a nationally consistent updated National Firearms Agreement.
✓ Accepted
✓ Accepted
3
Counter-Terrorism Handbook updated promptly and at minimum every three years; Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator role made full-time.
✓ Accepted
✓ Accepted
4
Enhanced national coordination on early intervention and prevention of radicalisation.
✓ Accepted
✓ Accepted
5
Improvements to intelligence-sharing between federal and state agencies regarding lone-actor threats.
✓ Accepted
✓ Accepted
🔒
5 recommendations remain classified (national security).
Classified
Classified
+4
4 additional public recommendations not yet publicly summarised in full.
Commission Timeline
9 Jan 2026
Commission established by Letters Patent
Commissioner: Justice Virginia Bell AC
24 Feb 2026
Opening public hearing, Sydney
Commission formally convened
Mar–Apr 2026
Submissions open & major surge
7,500+ submissions received
30 Apr 2026
Interim Report tabled in Parliament
14 recommendations on counter-terrorism
4–15 May 2026
◉ Hearing Block 1 — Sydney (FINAL WEEK)
Week 2: Expert evidence, metrics, institutional responses — ends 15 May
14 Jun 2026
Submissions portal closes
14 June 2026
Mid–Late 2026
Further hearing blocks (locations TBC)
Education, online platforms, institutions, arts, sport, media
14 Dec 2026
Final Report due
Presented to Governor-General
Active Hearing Block
Block 1
Sydney, NSW
4 – 15 May 2026 · 10:00 am daily
⚡ FINAL WEEK — ends 15 May
Focus areas:
• Defining antisemitism
• Lived experiences & impact
• Prevalence metrics
• Defining antisemitism
• Lived experiences & impact
• Prevalence metrics
Commissioner
Justice Virginia Bell AC
Former Justice of the High Court of Australia (Feb 2009 – Feb 2021). Sole commissioner. Appointed 9 January 2026.
Key Figures
14
Interim recommendations
5
Classified recs
100%
Govt acceptance rate
—
Days to final report
Terms of Reference & Submission Themes
Terms of Reference — Key Inquiry Areas
Letters patent issued 9 January 2026. Commissioner to examine:
Antisemitism definition
Prevalence & spread
Jewish lived experience
Safety & physical wellbeing
Mental health impacts
Government responses
Law enforcement
Border & immigration
Security agencies
Counter-terrorism
Social cohesion
Extremism prevention
Bondi attack (14 Dec 2025)
Institutional responses
Recommendations
Submission Themes — Lived Experience of Antisemitism
Overwhelmingly, submissions detail lived experiences across multiple domains:
🎓 Education
💼 Employment
📰 Media
🏥 Health
🎭 The Arts
⚽ Sport
💻 Online / Social Media
🏫 Universities
🏘️ Community life
🕍 Religious practice
🛡️ Physical safety
🧠 Mental wellbeing
Hearing Block 1 — Daily Schedule & Witnesses
Block 1 · Sydney · 4–15 May 2026 · 10:00 am daily ·
4 May
Opening — Lived Experience & Bondi Attack Impact
Sheina Gutnick (daughter of Bondi victim Reuven Morrison) ·
Peter Halasz (Holocaust survivor) ·
Alex Ryvchin (ECAJ Co-CEO, Bondi survivor) ·
Josh Gomperts (Hatzolah paramedic) ·
Rabbi Benjamin Elton (Great Synagogue) ·
Jeremy Leibler (President, Zionist Federation of Australia) ·
12 witnesses total incl. anonymous (court-granted)
5 May
Lived Experience — Education, Universities & Schools
University students (campus hostility) ·
Teachers & parents (school antisemitism) ·
See daily witness list for full names
6 May
Lived Experience — Employment, Health & the Arts
Healthcare professionals · Arts sector witnesses ·
Small business owners ·
See daily witness list
7 May
Community Leadership & Institutional Response
Jillian Segal (Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism) ·
12 witnesses total ·
See full witness list
8 May
Online Hate, Sport & Media
Gay Jewish convert (antisemitism within LGBTQ community) ·
8 witnesses total ·
See full witness list
11 May
Defining Antisemitism — Expert Evidence
12 May
Metrics & Measuring Prevalence
13 May
Government & Institutional Responses
14 May
Social Cohesion & Extremism Prevention
15 May
Closing — Block 1 Summary Submissions
Background Context
Triggering Event
Bondi Antisemitic Terrorist Attack — 14 December 2025
The Royal Commission was established in direct response to the Bondi attack. The Interim Report (April 2026) examined circumstances surrounding the attack and made 14 counter-terrorism recommendations, 5 of which remain classified on national security grounds.
Broader Mandate
Beyond the attack, the Commission examines the full breadth of antisemitism in Australian society — its prevalence, drivers, institutional and government responses, and what reforms would strengthen social cohesion. Final report due December 2026.
Legal Support Available
Free legal assistance is available for those making submissions or appearing as witnesses.
National Legal Aid RC Service →
📞 1800 976 198 · Free & independent
Legal Aid WA →
National Legal Aid RC Service →
📞 1800 976 198 · Free & independent
Legal Aid WA →