Last updated:
Submission Statistics
Total Submissions Received
21,000+
As of 15 June 2026
↑ 4,365 since 11 May
Submissions — Past Week
~2,000
Surge in final submission period
~31% growth since 11 May
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
21,000 submissions received
30 Apr 2026
Interim Report tabled in Parliament
14 recommendations on counter-terrorism
4–15 May 2026
✓ Block 1 — Sydney (COMPLETE)
Antisemitism definition, lived experience, metrics — 55+ witnesses
25 May 2026
✓ Block 2 — Sydney (COMPLETE)
Bondi attack, intelligence & security agencies, counter-terrorism
14 Jun 2026
✓ Submissions portal closed — 21,000+ received
Submission period ended. Thank you to all who participated.
29 Jun – 10 Jul 2026
✓ Block 3 — Sydney (COMPLETE)
Online hate, social media platforms (Meta, X, TikTok, YouTube), traditional media & ACMA
13–17 Jul 2026
✓ Block 4 — Melbourne (COMPLETE)
Universities & higher education — antisemitism on campuses
20–27 Jul 2026
✓ Block 5 — Melbourne & Sydney (COMPLETE)
Security arrangements for Jewish institutions, events & community leaders
28–31 Jul 2026
✓ Block 6 — Sydney (COMPLETE)
Guidance, training & frameworks — government, workplaces, healthcare, schools, arts
4 Aug 2026
✓ Block 7 — Sydney (COMPLETE)
Protests & policing — Sydney Opera House (Oct 2023) & NSW Parliament (Nov 2025)
5–14 Aug 2026
✓ Block 8 — Sydney (COMPLETE)
Radicalisation & extremism — far-right, religious, online platforms & preachers
17–29 Aug 2026
◉ Block 9 — Sydney (IN PROGRESS — FINAL BLOCK)
Social cohesion — David Gonski AC (Antisemitism Education Taskforce), cross-community initiatives
14 Dec 2026
Final Report due
Presented to Governor-General — first anniversary of Bondi attack
Current Hearing Block
Block 9
Sydney, NSW — FINAL BLOCK
17–29 Aug 2026 · Concludes 29 August
⚡ IN PROGRESS
Focus areas:
• Social cohesion — understanding & measurement
• Strengthening cross-community relations
• David Gonski AC — Antisemitism Education Taskforce
• Interfaith & multicultural initiatives
• Final report preparations underway
• Social cohesion — understanding & measurement
• Strengthening cross-community relations
• David Gonski AC — Antisemitism Education Taskforce
• Interfaith & multicultural initiatives
• Final report preparations underway
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
83
Witnesses heard
19,700
Livestream views
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
Definitions & Drivers of Antisemitism — Expert Evidence
Jewish Council of Australia (definitions & anti-Zionism vs antisemitism) ·
See Day 6 witness list
12 May
Antisemitism & the Israel-Palestine Debate
Andrew Markus (Monash University) — survey data: negative views of Jews rose 9%→15% (2023–25) ·
Peggy Dwyer (Counsel, Jewish Council of Australia)
13 May
Government & Institutional Responses
14 May
International Perspective — Antisemitism Definition & Global Trends
Dr Dave Rich (Director of Policy, UK Community Security Trust) — sole witness, by video link from London ·
Defended IHRA definition; warned anti-Jewish hatred has "entered the mainstream"
15 May
Closing — Block 1 Summary Submissions
✅ Hearing Block 2 — Sydney — 25 May 2026 (COMPLETE)
25 May
Bondi Attack — Security & Intelligence Agencies (Public Sessions)
Mike Burgess (ASIO Director-General) — terrorism threat level, Iranian IRGC involvement ·
Stephen Nutt (AFP Assistant Commissioner) — post-Oct 7 surge in antisemitic incidents ·
Leanne McCusker (NSW Police Asst Commander) — no threat assessment prepared for Chanukah by the Sea event
26 May+
Security Arrangements, Resource Allocation & Intelligence Sharing
Peter McKenna (NSW Police Asst Commissioner) — police resource allocation decisions ·
Community Services Group representatives (identities protected) ·
Key finding: No agency had specific advance knowledge of the attack ·
Most sessions closed — national security
✅ Hearing Block 3 — Sydney — 29 Jun – 10 Jul 2026 (COMPLETE)
29 Jun
Online Hate & Antisemitism — Nature, Prevalence & Drivers
Dr Andre Oboler (Online Hate Prevention Institute CEO) — thousands of examples across 7 major platforms ·
X platform cooperation collapsed after Musk takeover (~80% trust & safety staff cut) ·
Facebook spiked post-Oct 7 2023 and again Jan & Apr 2026
1–7 Jul
Platform Policies, Regulation & Traditional Media
Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Telegram representatives — content moderation effectiveness ·
ACMA — complaints handling & regulatory powers ·
TikTok: good removal rates but relies on public flagging ·
YouTube: proactive screening prevents most hate speech going live ·
Meta drastically reduced automated detection Jan 2025
9–10 Jul
Traditional Media & Broadcasting — Final Sessions
Antisemitism in news coverage and broadcasting ·
Role of Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) ·
SBS, ABC and other broadcasters' responses to antisemitic content
✅ Hearing Block 4 — Melbourne — 13–17 Jul 2026 (COMPLETE)
13–17 Jul
Antisemitism in Australian Universities & Higher Education
Lived experiences of Jewish students and academics ·
Examination of campus antisemitism, protests and boycott campaigns ·
University administrators on policy responses ·
Location: 11 Exhibition Street, Melbourne
✅ Hearing Block 5 — Melbourne & Sydney — 20–27 Jul 2026 (COMPLETE)
20–24 Jul
Security Arrangements for the Jewish Community (Melbourne)
Security needs of Jewish institutions, events & leaders ·
Role of Jewish community security groups in Australia and internationally ·
Law enforcement coordination with community security groups ·
Government protective security funding · Police data collection on risk
27 Jul
Security Continuation (Sydney)
Further security evidence sessions, Sydney
✅ Hearing Block 6 — Sydney — 28–31 Jul 2026 (COMPLETE)
28–31 Jul
Guidance, Training & Frameworks to Counter Antisemitism
Government agencies & departments — policies and response frameworks ·
Workplace antisemitism & HR policy ·
Healthcare sector responses ·
Schools & education — antisemitism curriculum and teacher training ·
Arts & creative industries — cultural institutions' responses
✅ Hearing Block 7 — Sydney — 4 Aug 2026 (COMPLETE)
4 Aug
Protests & Policing — Antisemitism in Public Demonstrations
Sydney Opera House protest — 9 October 2023 ·
NSW Parliament House protest — 8 November 2025 ·
Democratic right to protest vs. hateful conduct at protests ·
Policing decisions & crowd management at antisemitic events
✅ Hearing Block 8 — Sydney — 5–14 Aug 2026 (COMPLETE)
5–14 Aug
Radicalisation & Extremism Driving Antisemitism
Far-right ideological extremism & antisemitism ·
Religious extremism — preachers and authority figures inciting hatred ·
Online platforms' role in radicalisation pathways ·
Digital environments & antisemitic echo chambers ·
How individuals are drawn into antisemitic beliefs
⚡ Hearing Block 9 — Sydney — 17–29 Aug 2026 (IN PROGRESS — FINAL BLOCK)
17–29 Aug
Social Cohesion — Measurement, Strengthening & Cross-Community Initiatives
David Gonski AC (Chair, Antisemitism Education Taskforce) — preschool to TAFE education plan ·
Jewish identity as part of everyday Australian life ·
Cross-cultural & interfaith community organisations ·
Multi-faith pilot programs expanding to government schools ·
Sporting organisations & community cohesion ·
Final report preparation — due 14 December 2026
Background Context
Triggering Event
Bondi Antisemitic Terrorist Attack — 14 December 2025
The Royal Commission was established in direct response to the Bondi attack. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry recorded 2,062 antisemitic incidents in the 12 months to September 2024 — a threefold increase. Block 2 hearing (25 May) confirmed no intelligence agency had specific advance knowledge of the 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
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