Virginia Bell releases interim report for anti-Semitism royal commission

That interim report has now been released, with 14 recommendations having been made to the federal government (five of which have been withheld from the publicly available report).

Among the recommendations are: that the procedures adopted by NSW Police in respect of Operation Jewish High Holy Days should apply to other high-risk Jewish festivals and events (particularly public-facing ones); that the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator’s role be made full-time; that the National Security Committee members, including the Prime Minister, participate in counter-terrorism exercises within nine months of each federal election; and that the Commonwealth, states and territories roll out an updated and consistent National Firearms Agreement, and implement the proposed National Gun Buyback Scheme.

As reported by ABC, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that all recommendations relevant to the Commonwealth would be implemented.

The interim report noted that no material or advice from any relevant intelligence and law enforcement agency that shared its views with the inquiry has identified any gap in the existing legal and regulatory frameworks that impeded the ability for law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to prevent, or respond to, an attack of the kind that occurred at Bondi on 14 December 2025. Moreover, it continued, no Commonwealth or state intelligence or law enforcement agency has suggested that it was prevented from taking prohibitive actions before or on 14 December 2025 by the then-current legislative and authorising framework.

In these respects, Bell wrote, no issue requiring urgent or immediate action has been identified.

“Nonetheless, the review of this considerable body of material by officers with relevant experience and expertise and by counsel assisting and me has revealed aspects in which counter-terrorism capability at Commonwealth and state levels could be improved,” the former judge said.

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Such improvements are the subject of the recommendations made in the interim report.

Former judge Bell was tapped for the role of commissioner for the inquiry in early January, following which Albanese and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland were forced to defend the appointment, saying her experience “speaks for itself” and that she is “one of the smartest legal minds this country has produced”, after criticism online from former treasurer Josh Frydenberg and reported dissatisfaction from some members of the Jewish Australian community.

The inquiry will conduct hearings over the next five months.

The hearings will address the prescribed terms of reference, which include: investigating the nature and prevalence of anti-Semitism in Australia, examining the circumstances that led to the Bondi attack, and making recommendations about how law enforcement, immigration, and security agencies can better tackle anti-Semitism, as well as any other recommendations to strengthen social cohesion nationwide.

Earlier this year, NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell warned that the horrific attack had revealed a disturbing surge in anti-Semitism, urging Australia’s legal profession and broader community to strengthen social cohesion and confront hatred before it fractures society.