Public hearing dates have been set for the Bondi royal commission, which will hear evidence on experiences of antisemitism five months on from the massacre at Bondi Beach. Source: The Australian.
The Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Royal Commission will hold its first block of public hearings from May 4 to 15, starting days after the release of its interim report on national security agencies and potential intelligence failings contributing to the mass shooting.
Later this year, the Australian Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism will hold its next meeting in and around Bondi just weeks before the first anniversary of the massacre.
According to a memo released on Wednesday afternoon, the first royal commission hearings will focus on:
- Defining antisemitism;
- The nature of antisemitism, in its historical and contemporary manifestations;
- Lived experiences of antisemitism, and its impacts on Jewish Australians in various domains; and
- Metrics for assessing the prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society, including through incident reporting and survey data.
Royal commissioner Virginia Bell – a former High Court judge – said case study testimony would be integral to her federal inquiry.
“It is vital for the work of the royal commission that we hear directly from Australians who have experienced antisemitism first-hand,” she said.
Hearings will be livestreamed. A breakdown of session times during the hearing block is not yet available.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said the hearings would provide a chance to acknowledge rising anti-Jewish hatred.
“We hope the public hearings are an opportunity for Australians to hear directly from Jewish community members about their lived experiences of antisemitism, including firebombings, attacks on synagogues, doxxing, harassment and threats against community institutions, as well as everyday acts of exclusion,” he said.
“We know this process will be difficult for many in our community. Giving evidence is an act of courage, and we hope each account contributes to making Australia a safer place.”
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Bondi royal commission to run through first half of May (By James Dowling and Lachlan Leeming, The Australian)
