The Royal Commission was called after the Bondi Beach atrocity and months of anti-Semitic incidents since the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel. Photo / Getty Images
The daughter of one of the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack and prominent Jewish community leader Alex Ryvchin will be among the first witnesses at the Australian Royal Commission into anti-Semitism and social cohesion.
The first block of hearings before Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell begin in Sydney on Monday.
Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, will be the first community leader to take the stand.
A total of 12 witnesses are scheduled for Monday, including Sheina Gutnick, the daughter of Bondi victim Reuven Morrison, and others talking about their lived experiences of anti-Semitism.
“This is about justice for the dead, their families and those whose lives were permanently transformed,” Ryvchin told the Australian.
“It is about answering the questions that allow us to heal and emerge stronger and ensure that this misery is inflicted on no other Australians.
“It is about wrenching this country out of a flaccid mindset that allows extremism and incitement to flourish and for the worst among us to dictate how the good and decent live.”
Fifteen innocent people were killed while dozens of others were injured after Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, allegedly opened fire at the Chanukah By The Sea event on December 14 last year.
Naveed Akram has yet to enter pleas to 59 charges, including 40 counts of attempted murder. His father was shot dead by police. The pair are alleged to have been inspired by Isis.
The first block of public hearings was due to begin on Monday at Clarence Street in Sydney’s CBD.
The two-week hearing will focus on defining anti-Semitism, its prevalence in Australia and how to assess its prevalence in society and institutions.
Several witnesses are expected to be called to share their lived experiences of anti-Semitism over the two weeks.
“This commission is the most significant national examination of anti-Semitism in Australia’s history,” Peter Wertheim, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said in a statement.
“Over the next fortnight, the country will hear from the people who lead our community, alongside ordinary Australians who have lived through what happens when words of hatred go unchallenged long enough that they stop being only words.
“The Jewish community is approaching this as Australians asking Australian institutions to look honestly at what has happened in this country and what needs to change.”
Members of the public will be able to watch the hearings via a livestream, as public seating will be limited inside the building.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Royal Commission on January 8 – 25 days after the Bondi Beach attacks – following weeks of pressure on the Government.
The Government had already ordered a review by former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation head Dennis Richardson into the actions of security agencies before the attack, but argued a Royal Commission could platform anti-Semitism.
“I’ve listened, and in a democracy, that’s a good thing to listen to what people are saying,” the Prime Minister said of the backflip at the time.
“And what people are saying is, yes, we’re concerned about the events, and the Richardson review will give consideration to those national security issues, were there any gaps or anything else, but we want an opportunity to tell our story about what occurred.
“I’ve taken the time to reflect, to meet with leaders in the Jewish community, and most importantly, I’ve met with many of the families of victims and survivors of that horrific attack.
“It’s clear to me that a Royal Commission is essential to achieving this.”
The Royal Commission will cover four key areas, including:
– tackling anti-Semitism by investigating the nature and prevalence of it in institutions and society and its key drivers in Australia, including ideologically and religiously motivated extremism and radicalisation;
– making recommendations that will assist law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to tackle anti-Semitism;
– examining the circumstances surrounding the anti-Semitic Bondi terrorist attack on December 14, 2025;
– making any other recommendations arising out of the inquiry for strengthening social cohesion in Australia and countering the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism.
“A Royal Commission is not the beginning or the end of what Australia must do to eradicate anti-Semitism, protect ourselves from terrorism or strengthen our social cohesion,” the Prime Minister said at the time.
“That is an ongoing national effort, for all of us. Because an attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on all Australians.”
The beginning of public hearings comes days after Bell released an interim report with 14 recommendations, all of which Albanese has vowed to accept.
The recommendations include calls to heighten security during Jewish High Holy Days and Jewish festivals, and refine counter-terror co-operation between federal and state agencies.
The state of the country’s gun laws was also thrown into the spotlight as Bell suggested efforts for a national gun buyback scheme and efforts to bring in an updated and more consistent national firearms agreement should be prioritised.
She has also asked for the role of Commonwealth counter-terrorism co-ordinator to become fulltime.
Albanese will be required to take part in counter-terror exercises within nine months of each federal election with all ministers on the National Security Committee, upon the implementation of another of the recommendations.
Five of the recommendations have been kept confidential for national security reasons.
Albanese said he would “respond swiftly” to the recommendations.
The Royal Commission’s final report is due to be handed down on December 14, marking one year since the fatal attack.
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