A federal inquiry led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell will examine antisemitism, security settings and agency responses after the mass shooting that killed 15 people.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a Commonwealth royal commission in response to the Bondi Beach Chanukah attack, arguing the country needs a full national reckoning on antisemitism and social cohesion after what he described as an act of terror.
The attack took place on 14 December 2025 during a Chanukah event at Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing 15 people and wounding a further 40, according to the draft letters patent setting out the proposed terms of reference.
Albanese stated that since the shooting, the government has taken immediate action including calling a National Cabinet to discuss stricter gun regulations with increasing funding for security and law enforcement and commissioning the Richardson Review to find any weaknesses in national security agencies operations and their collaboration with states and territories.
When parliament reconvenes, he also pointed out legislation that would make hate speech and preachers illegal.
Albanese stated that a royal commission was now required in addition to those temporary measures during a press conference on Thursday in Canberra.
“It’s clear to me that a Royal Commission is essential to achieving this,” Anthony Albanese stated during a press conference.
What the inquiry will cover and when it will report
Under the draft letters patent, the commission will examine the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society and the drivers of antisemitism in Australia including religious and ideologically motivated extremism and radicalisation.
It will also assess the impact of antisemitism on the daily lives of Jewish Australians including security and wellbeing.
The letters patent ask the commissioner to make recommendations to help law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies tackle antisemitism including training and guidance, protective security for Jewish sites and events and whether agencies have sufficient powers and resources.
The commission is also tasked with examining the circumstances of the Bondi Beach attack itself including the lead up to the shooting, security arrangements for the event, the emergency response and how information was shared between Commonwealth agencies and state and territory bodies.
It is explicitly asked to consider whether agencies performed to maximum effectiveness and whether legal and regulatory frameworks impeded preventative action.
The draft letters patent require the commissioner to provide an interim report by 30 April 2026, focused on the matters relating to the attack and any other issues requiring urgent action with a final report due by 14 December 2026.
Albanese said he had spoken with NSW Premier Chris Minns and expected there would be a single royal commission, noting his government had previously committed to cooperate with a NSW process.
