Three and a half weeks after the Chanukah Massacre at Bondi Beach, a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was established by the Australian Government. Its purpose is to examine the prevalence, nature, causes and effects of antisemitism in Australia; determine how to counter antisemitism; and how to strengthen social cohesion and community safety.

The Commission is headed by the Hon Virginia Bell AC SC, a former Justice of the High Court of Australia. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry welcomed her appointment.

The Royal Commission has broad powers to receive evidence, request documents and make recommendations. It is important to note that it does not have the power to implement the recommendations it makes.

In summary, the Commission aims:

• to investigate the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society by examining its key drivers in Australia, including religious and ideologically motivated extremism and radicalisation

• to report on the ways in which governments can respond to antisemitism and make recommendations to assist law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to tackle it

• to examine the interaction and information sharing between Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies and between those agencies and the organisers of the Bondi Chanukah event

• to make other recommendations that would contribute to strengthening social cohesion and countering the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism

Commissioner Bell announced that the commission would be using the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) working definition of antisemitism as its starting point.