ACL: Keep the Royal Commission Focused on Antisemitism
Michael Barnett OAM
News Item
Keep the Royal Commission Focused on Antisemitism
A Royal Commission into Antisemitism has now been announced by the Government. It is a long overdue step toward understanding how the Bondi attack occurred and what must change to protect Jewish Australians from hatred and violence.
But for this inquiry to matter, it must remain focused. Australians are demanding answers on extremist ideology and the failures that allowed it to take root. There is no public appetite for the inquiry to become a vehicle for broader political agendas.
The Bondi attack on 14 December shocked the nation. Families are still grieving and communities are still asking how an openly antisemitic ideology went unchallenged for so long. A serious response must confront radical Islamic extremism and the incitement of violence against Jewish Australians. Anything less avoids the real issue.
Already there are signs that some will push the royal commission toward ‘mission creep’. Suggestions that it should pave the way for broader hate speech reforms covering gender and sexuality ignore what actually drove the Bondi attack. Such proposals risk diluting the purpose of the inquiry and enabling interest groups to advance unrelated causes.
Australians are calling for action that addresses the real threats at hand. We owe it to the victims and their families to act decisively and not allow this tragedy to be used to advance unrelated political agendas.
The Opposition Leader, Sussan Ley, made the important point that Australia is not facing a crisis of speech about gender or sexuality. We are facing a crisis fuelled by radical Islamic extremism and neo-Nazi ideology. Pretending otherwise will not make our communities safer.
Real security threats deserve strong action, but any resulting reforms must be precise and proportionate. Australia cannot afford new laws that silence legitimate debate or target religious conviction under the banner of social cohesion. For that reason, we have written to the Government urging a disciplined scope for the inquiry and cautioning against attempts to smuggle in broader hate speech reforms.
Over the coming weeks, the terms of reference will be finalised. These will determine whether the Royal Commission remains focused on antisemitism or becomes something far broader. We will continue to engage with Government and Opposition to ensure the inquiry strengthens both community safety and freedom, and we will provide updates as details emerge.
Chief Executive Officer