Commissioner begins antisemitism inquiry by ensuring shooter trial uncompromised

The head of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, Virginia Bell, met informally with relatives of those who lost their lives and others directly affected by the Bondi Beach massacre to explain why they would not be able to give evidence to the Commission.

The Commission must not compromise the forthcoming trial of the surviving shooter, Naveed Akram, Bell said in her opening remarks on Tuesday, adding that today’s meeting would allow her to “explain the limitations on the approach the Commission can take to leading evidence.

“This commission must do its work without risking any prejudice to that criminal proceeding,” Bell said. “Leading evidence at this commission from people who may be witnesses in the criminal proceeding would create that risk and, for that reason, it will not occur.”

Bell’s opening remarks, delivered to a packed court room in Sydney, outlined the Commission’s three primary terms of reference.

The first “requires the Commission 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. The Commission is to report on the ways in which governments can respond to antisemitism”.

The second “requires it to make recommendations to assist law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to tackle antisemitism,” and as part of this “the Commission will review protective security for Jewish places of worship, major sites, educational and cultural facilities, public events and community leaders”.

The third “requires the Commission to examine the interaction and information sharing between Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies and between those agencies and the organisers of the Hanukkah event”.