Australia’s Bondi terror attack inquiry begins first block of public hearings

Sheina Gutnick, whose father was killed in a mass shooting at Bondi Beach, speaks to the media. Pic/AFP

A landmark antisemitism inquiry established in the wake of the fatal terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach started its first block of public hearings on Monday.

The first block of hearings, which is held by the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, will continue until Friday in Sydney.

Commissioner Virginia Bell, a former High Court judge, will preside over the first block of hearings, which will examine the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia and hear from a number of witnesses about their lived experience of antisemitism, Xinhua news agency reported.

The circumstances surrounding the Bondi attack will be probed during the second hearing block slated for the end of May, while the third block is set to explore the radicalisation that may be generated through online hate and antisemitism on social media.

Bell last week handed down the commission's interim report, which made 14 recommendations, five of which were not released publicly for national security reasons.

The report said that federal, state and territory governments should prioritise efforts to implement consistent firearms laws and a gun buyback scheme to remove surplus and illegal guns from the community.

The inquiry was established by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in January after 15 people were killed in a fatal mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025.

Alleged gunman Naveed Akram has been charged with murder and terrorism offences over the attack, which authorities claim was motivated by Islamic State ideology. His father and fellow alleged perpetrator, Sajid Akram, was shot dead at the scene.

The royal commission will not examine the intention and motivation behind the attack to avoid influencing criminal proceedings.

It will hand down its final report by the first anniversary of the attack.

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