Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion

Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion

Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion 

Following the 14 December 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack, the Australian Government has established a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, led by former High Court Justice the Honourable Virginia Bell AC. The inquiry has broad powers, will report publicly, and is tasked with examining both the circumstances surrounding the attack and the broader drivers of antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia. 

What the Royal Commission will examine: 

According to the Government’s announcement and the Letters Patent, the Commission will: 

• Investigate the nature, prevalence and drivers of antisemitism in institutions and society, including ideologically and religiously motivated extremism.  

• Recommend improvements for law enforcement, border, immigration and security agencies (including powers, training, guidance, and protective security arrangements).  

• Examine the circumstances surrounding the Bondi Beach attack (including planning, intelligence sharing, security arrangements, and emergency response).  

• Make recommendations to strengthen social cohesion and counter the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism.  

The timeline of the Royal Commission is relatively short, with an Interim Report due by 30 April 2026 and a Final Report due by 14 December 2026.  

 

FECCA’s position: safety, dignity and belonging for all 

FECCA unequivocally condemns antisemitism in all its forms and supports an inquiry that delivers safety for Jewish Australians while strengthening social cohesion for all communities. FECCA’s more than 40‑year advocacy demonstrates that durable social cohesion is built through equity, access, anti‑racism, and trusted information ecosystems, designed and delivered in genuine partnership with communities. 

FECCA has consistently advocated for core tenets of social cohesion since its inception, including: 

• A national model for cohesion governance 

FECCA’s submission to the Multicultural Framework Review proposed a National Multicultural Framework with clear governance, accountability and community‑led engagement. This type of national architecture is directly relevant to, and foundational for, the Commission’s work on social cohesion. 

• Measuring cohesion in the national wellbeing agenda 

Through its submission Measuring What Matters, FECCA argued that national wellbeing reporting must include equity, cultural safety and intersectionality to enable tracking of belonging, access and fairness over time. These measures are critical to assessing whether social cohesion policies are effective. 

• Defining and addressing racism (including antisemitism) 

Through FECCA’s national consultations for the National Anti‑Racism Framework undertaken in partnership with the Australian Human Rights Commission, FECCA documented where racism occurs, its impacts, and community‑derived solutions. This evidence base addresses antisemitism alongside other forms of racism and exclusion. 

• A long‑standing policy foundation for social cohesion 

FECCA’s 2011 submission Here to Stay: Australia’s Multicultural Reality articulated the pillars of equality, participation, identity, and social inclusion, identifying racism and barriers to access as key inhibitors of social cohesion: principles that remain highly relevant today. 

FECCA will continue to advocate for these principles in its engagement with, and advocacy to, the Royal Commission. 

 

How can communities participate 

FECCA will support meaningful multicultural community participation in the Royal Commission process by: 

• Hosting webinars, consultations and roundtables with multicultural organisations nationally; 

• Supporting community organisations and individuals to prepare and lodge submissions; 

• Sharing regular updates aligned with the Commission’s April and December reporting milestones.  

Multicultural organisations and community members are encouraged to subscribe to FECCA updates to stay informed and get involved. For more information, please email us at admin@fecca.org.au