Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion: Bondi Attack Hearings

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion hearing today can be viewed on the official website.

A number of sessions are expected to be closed to the public due to ongoing criminal proceedings and matters of national security.

Lancaster is now addressing a question many have had since the terror attack of December 2025.

"There is no evidence that any intelligence agency or law enforcement agency had any actual knowledge or specific information to suggest that there might be an armed attack on the Hanukkah celebration at Bondi on 14th December 2025," he said.

"In that sense, it was a surprise attack."

Lancaster is now moving on to what NSW Police Assistiant Commissioner Leanne McCusker will tell the commission.

Of interest he says the Jewish public events in September and October 2025 were assessed as needing the "highest level" of resources, otherwise known as "tier three" events.

This would mean police would manage them in liason with the Counter-Terror and Special Tactics commands.

"By contrast, the Hanukkah events at Bondi and Dover Heights in 2025 were each regarded as tier one community events in which the management of the police resources was the responsibility of the local area command in this instance," Lancaster said.

Lancaster is detailing what ASIO boss Mike Burgess will tell the commission today.

His evidence is likely to explain the changes in the national terrorism threat level and the agency's "pivot" to focus on foreign interference.

According to Lancaster, what the public won't hear in open hearings from Burgess this week is the following:

The assessment and description by ASIO of the threat of violent antisemitic attacks.

The adequacy of information sharing between ASIO and other agencies, including sharing by ASIO of information known to it and sharing by other agencies of new information that might come to light about persons who have previously come to the attention of ASIO.

The effectiveness of ASIO's investigations and analysis in the lead-up to December 14, 2025.

The changes in resourcing and intelligence agencies for counterterrorism over time.

These will be canvassed by Burgess later in the week during closed session.

We have received an update on the number of submissions the royal commission has received.

As of Friday, a total 12,641 submissions have been made to the inquiry.

About 8,500 respondents identified as Jewish, with more than 5,800 located in NSW.

About 4,000 respondents were from Victoria.

Submissions can be made until June 14 via the royal commission's website.

In the first block of hearings earlier this month, Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell heard from people with lived experience of antisemitism.

The inquiry will now resume, with the second block of hearings in Sydney to focus on:

The terrorist threat level and security environment in the lead-up to the attack.

What was known about the gunmen, and what was done with that information.

The security arrangements for the Chanukah by the Sea event.

How intelligence about individuals known to authorities is utilised and shared to inform decisions made by security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Resourcing for counterterrorism, and the effectiveness of current powers, systems and processes of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Commissioner Bell is set to make a statement ahead of hearing from witnesses.

Welcome to live coverage of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion today, as the second block of hearings gets underway.

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess will be the first witness at today's hearing, which will examine the circumstances surrounding the Bondi terror attack and what was known about the shooters in the months and years prior.

The inquiry will also hear evidence from Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt and Leanne McCusker from the New South Wales Police Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command.

Security arrangements at the Bondi Chanukah by the Sea event will also be a focus, with representatives of Jewish organisation, the Community Security Group (CSG), also set to give evidence under a pseudonym.