Australia Establishes Royal Commission on Antisemitism After Bondi Attack

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Thursday the establishment of a Commonwealth royal commission to investigate antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia, following the deadly terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14. The inquiry, which will examine the circumstances of the assault that claimed 15 lives during a Hanukkah event, responds to three weeks of calls from victims' families, Jewish community leaders, opposition figures, and others for a federal probe into the nation's worst terror incident.

Albanese, who had initially resisted the idea, citing concerns over delays and duplication with state-level efforts, confirmed the decision in a press conference. He stated that the commission would be led by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell and incorporate ongoing investigations, including a review by former senior public servant Dennis Richardson into intelligence failures. Richardson's work, which includes an interim report due in April, will support the broader inquiry without prejudicing criminal proceedings related to the attack.

The royal commission's terms of reference focus on four areas: assessing the nature and prevalence of antisemitism;...