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Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion

Submission Date: June 2026

The Law Council of Australia provided a submission to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion (Royal Commission) on the issues.

The Law Council is deeply concerned by the rise of antisemitism in Australia, particularly over recent years. The Law Council unequivocally condemn antisemitic and hate-driven acts of any kind and recognise that Australia is at a critical juncture. The Law Council recognises the unique nature, history and gravity of harm caused by antisemitism, both recently and historically. This has been detailed in the firsthand testimonies provided to this Royal Commission,1 the 2025 inquiry into Antisemitism in New South Wales2 and the Australian Human Rights Commission’s (AHRC) Seen and Heard project,3 which demonstrate the serious harms that have been done, and continue to be done, by means of antisemitic acts across Australia.

These harms are not limited to the Jewish community but have broader implications for social cohesion in Australia. As David Ossip, President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, stated in evidence to the 2025 inquiry into Antisemitism in New South Wales, “[a]ntisemitism is often a bellwether for and harbinger of broader discrimination and a warning bell for structural weaknesses in a society.”4

Jewish Australians—like all Australians—have the right to live their lives free from persecution, discrimination, vilification, harassment and violence. Racism, hatred, intolerance and extremist ideologies have no place in Australia and stand in direct opposition to the principles that underpin our legal system and the legal profession. The Law Council is committed to combatting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination across the legal profession and is giving ongoing careful consideration to our leadership role in this context.

The Royal Commission was established in the aftermath of the horrific terrorist attack5 at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, which caused profound harm and distress to Jewish communities and the broader Australian public. The Law Council expresses its strong support for the survivors and families of victims of that attack. As the Law Council stated in January 2026:

… the scale of the loss of life, the broader context in which the attack occurred, and its profound implications for community safety, social cohesion and confidence in our legal system demanded an inquiry of the highest order.6

1 Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Transcript of proceedings, Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion (Hearing Day 1, 4 May 2026) 21; Transcript of proceedings, Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion (Hearing Day 4, 7 May 2026) 423; Transcript of proceedings, Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion (Hearing Day 6, 11 May 2026) 502-503.
2 Portfolio Committee No. 5 Justice and Communities, NSW Legislative Council, Evidence consolidation report from the inquiry into antisemitism in New South Wales (Evidence Consolidation Report, February 2026).
3 Australian Human Rights Commission, The struggle in being seen, the power in being heard: Community insights from the Seen & Heard project (Report, April 2026).
4 Evidence to Justice and Communities Committee, NSW Legislative Council, 19 May 2025, 2 (David Ossip).
5 We note that the surviving accused has been charged with a range of offences, including terror offences, and do not intend to anticipate outcome of his prosecution or any related proceedings.

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Last Updated on 01/07/2026

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