MELBOURNE, Australia — The leader of Australia’s highest-profile public inquiry into antisemitism has publicly denounced a dangerous wave of online bigotry targeting Jewish community members who have stepped forward to share their experiences, condemning the harassment as an unacceptable attempt to intimidate witnesses. The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, a landmark probe granted the nation’s top investigative authority, was established in direct response to one of the worst antisemitic attacks in recent Australian history: a December mass shooting at a Sydney Hanukkah gathering that left 15 people dead. The attack was carried out by two gunmen authorities say were radicalized and inspired by the Islamic State group.
Since the commission launched its public hearings on May 4, multiple Jewish witnesses who have testified about their personal encounters with antisemitism have been targeted with coordinated online harassment and intimidation, according to the inquiry’s chair, former High Court justice Virginia Bell. In a formal statement released Tuesday, Bell confirmed that the commission has received multiple reports documenting a sharp spike in hate-filled messages directed at witnesses immediately after they gave evidence.
“I cannot fathom what those spreading this undiluted hatred and bigotry toward members of the Jewish community hope to achieve through these attacks,” Bell said. “This kind of vicious targeting has no place in a public inquiry designed to center the voices of those impacted by antisemitism.”
The commission is systematically documenting all offensive social media content linked to the harassment, Bell confirmed, adding that one particularly severe case has already been referred to Australian law enforcement for further investigation. The inquiry’s core mandate, she noted, is to comprehensively understand and assess the day-to-day experiences of antisemitism among Australian Jewish communities — acts of intimidation against witnesses directly undermine this foundational goal.
Over the commission’s first two weeks of public hearings, investigators have focused on mapping the nature and pervasiveness of antisemitism across Australian public institutions and broader society. The inquiry has already faced on-the-ground displays of hate: during the first week of hearings, police confirmed that a 68-year-old man was charged after appearing outside the Sydney commission venue wearing a shirt bearing a prohibited Nazi symbol. The design superimposed a Star of David over a swastika, paired with the slogan: “Antisemitism. Proud to be accused. Speak up!”
At the time of the incident, the commission released a statement saying it was appalled by the display of explicit antisemitism so close to its proceedings. Officials moved quickly to reassure witnesses that strict safety protocols were already in place around all inquiry venues, reaffirming the commission’s unwavering commitment to its work. “This royal commission is determined to investigate antisemitism in Australia without fear or intimidation,” the commission said in the earlier statement. That resolve has only been reinforced in the wake of the online targeting of witnesses, Bell emphasized Tuesday.