What is a Royal Commission and who will lead it? Albanese orders inquiry after Bondi terrorist attack

Less than a month after the deadly antisemitic attack at Bondi, which left 16 people dead and at least 40 injured, Australia’s federal government has announced a Royal Commission to examine antisemitism, extremism, and the circumstances surrounding the violence that shocked the nation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday, January 8 ordered the establishment of a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, responding to growing public anger, grief, and calls for accountability following the December 14, 2025, Bondi terrorist attack, where most victims were Jewish and attending a Hanukkah-related event.

What is a Royal Commission?

A royal commission is the highest form of independent inquiry established by the government to investigate serious national issues. According to The Conversation, royal commissions have the power to gather evidence, hold public and private hearings, and recommend changes to laws or policies, though governments are not legally required to implement those recommendations.


Royal commissions are typically led by a judge or senior legal expert and are formally created through letters patent, approved by the Governor-General. These documents also set out the terms of reference, defining the scope of the inquiry and the questions it must address.

Why Australia is forming the Royal Commission

Australia is establishing a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion to examine the causes and impact of antisemitism following the Bondi terrorist attack of December 14, 2025. The inquiry will investigate the spread of antisemitism in Australian society, assess how extremist ideologies contribute to it, review the circumstances of the Bondi attack, and recommend measures to help law enforcement and security agencies better respond.

The commission will also propose broader steps to strengthen social cohesion and counter ideologically and religiously motivated extremism. All Australian states and territories will be invited to join the Commission, making it a national inquiry.

Who will lead the Royal Commission?

The Albanese government has appointed former High Court Justice Virginia Bell AC as Commissioner. In its media release, the government said Bell has the experience and authority to conduct the inquiry in a way that “meaningfully examines the impact of antisemitism on the daily life of Jewish Australians – and works to promote social cohesion.”

The government has asked Commissioner Bell to deliver her final report before the end of 2026, while ensuring the inquiry does not interfere with any future criminal proceedings linked to the Bondi attack.

In its statement, the government stressed that the inquiry is part of a broader national effort, saying, “A Royal Commission is not the beginning or the end of what Australia must do to eradicate antisemitism, protect ourselves from terrorism or strengthen our social cohesion.” It concluded, “Because an attack on Jewish Australians, is an attack on all Australians.”