Landmark royal commission into antisemitism prompted by Bondi shooting begins

Landmark royal commission into antisemitism prompted by Bondi shooting begins9 hours agoLana LamSydneyGetty ImagesThe federal royal commission will look at antisemitism and its drivers in AustraliaAustralia's royal commission into antisemitism, prompted after the Bondi Beach shootings that killed 15 people and injured 40, has begun public hearings.The federal commission - the country's most powerful form of public inquiry - will investigate the prevalence and key drivers of antisemitism and make recommendations to government.Headed by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell, the inquiry - which started on Tuesday - will also examine the events leading up to the attack, which was Australia's worst mass shooting in decades.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had resisted calls for a federal inquiry, saying it would hinder social cohesion but later bowed to public pressure.The commissioner is expected to hand down an interim report by the end of April, and a full report no later than the first anniversary of the attack, which took place on 14 December last year."I acknowledge that for some, it will never be right to speak of closure, but one small part of coming to terms with the events of that evening will be the work of this commission," Bell said in her opening address on Tuesday."I regard the delivery of my report on or before the first anniversary as a matter of critical importance," she added.Bell said she was "interested in hearing from Jewish Australians who've experienced antisemitism whether at school or at university, or in the workplace or elsewhere".Any person could make a submission online, and no one would be pressured into giving evidence in public, she said.Richard Lancaster, senior counsel assisting the commission, described the Bondi shooting as a "truly horrifying event" and acknowledged the "immense trauma" the attack had caused Jewish Australians.Lancaster proposed to lead evidence on four broad topics: identifying antisemitic conduct, identifying the drivers of antisemitism, examining how law enforcement tackles antisemitism and inquiring into the circumstances of the Bondi shooting - particularly the dealings security agencies and intelligence services had with the alleged gunmen.Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene of the shootings. His son Naveed Akram - the other alleged attacker - was critically injured and later transferred from hospital to prison.The 24-year-old appeared in court last week for the first time, facing 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist attack.In light of the ongoing criminal case, the royal commission has been instructed to avoid matters that might prejudice current and future court proceedings. This may mean some hearings are conducted behind closed doors. In the immediate aftermath of the shootings, Albanese announced a review by a former spy chief to look at what federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies did in the lead-up to the attack and what improvements could be made.He said that review, alongside a royal commission called by the state of New South Wales, would be the best way to respond to the attacks and that a federal inquiry would give a platform to antisemitic hate speech.However Albanese was forced to reverse his decision amid continued calls by prominent Jewish leaders and a number of the families affected - which were echoed by the opposition leader at the time.As a result, the review into federal law enforcement and agencies will be folded into the royal commission and the NSW inquiry was cancelled.The shootings also prompted a raft of new gun laws and crackdown on hate speech, as well as greater powers to limit protests.The commission comes amid an already fraught debate raging in Australia over Israel, Gaza and antisemitism.Earlier this month, a rally against a visit by Israeli president Isaac Herzog was marred by violent scuffles between police and protestors. Herzog had been invited by Albanese as a comfort to the families affected by the Bondi attack, but his visit was opposed by thousands of Australians over his government's actions in Gaza.