Virginia Bell

Virginia Bell is the commissioner heading the Australian federal royal commission into antisemitism. This commission was established following a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people and injured 40, which occurred at a Jewish festival. The commission is tasked with investigating antisemitism and its drivers in Australia. Bell's role is to lead the inquiry and deliver findings. She recently announced that the scope of the inquiry would be reduced to avoid prejudicing ongoing criminal proceedings related to the Bondi attack. Dennis Richardson, a former spy chief, recently resigned from his role as special advisor to the inquiry, with Bell expressing gratitude for his work. The commission is considered significant as it is the country's most powerful form of independent inquiry and aims to address antisemitism in the wake of a major terror event.