Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Hearing Focuses on Bondi Attack
Quick Look
- The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is holding hearings in Sydney, focusing on the December 2025 Bondi attack.
- ASIO's shift in priorities from counterterrorism to espionage and intelligence sharing between agencies are key topics.
- Many sessions will be closed to the public.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is holding hearings in Sydney. ASIO's priorities have shifted from counterterrorism to espionage and foreign interference. The Bondi attack in December 2025 was considered a surprise.
Watch the hearing
By Anton Rose
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.
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New South Wales
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ASIO's contact with Jewish security group
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By Anton Rose
Burgess says since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, ASIO officers had frequent contact with the Community Security Group (CSG), who provides security to the Jewish community.
"So even prior to October [2023] my officers had contact with the Community Security Group and that continued prior and afterwards," he said.
"And obviously the tempo of that increased after the 7th of October."
Burgess defends change in priorities
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By Anton Rose
Burgess is defending ASIO's change in priorities from counterterrorism to espionage in the years leading up to the 2025 Bondi attack.
"At the same time, every rock we lifted up, we found espionage or foreign interference that need to be inquired and investigated," he said.
"And so resources were moved over there. Of course, again, I reiterate that at no time do I believe we had any serious inquiries that was left uninquired or investigated.
"So yes, we were pivoting resources across because that's where the leads took us and where we were required to put effort."
Burgess explains the change in priorities at ASIO
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By Anton Rose
Mike Burgess is up.
The ASIO boss has been asked by Lancaster why foreign interference and espionage became the agency's focus prior to the Bondi terror attack.
"We saw the change in the security environment ... our assessment was that national terrorism threat level had lowered from probable to possible at the same time," Burgess said.
"And actually independent of that, because espionage and foreign terror and security threats are not connected to the terrorism threat, we had seen an increase in threats or activities relating to theft of information, espionage and/or foreign interference in our communities and the political system."
No intelligence pointing to Bondi attack, commission told
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By Anton Rose
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."
Police resourcing at Bondi to be examined
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By Anton Rose
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.
What ASIO boss will tell the commission
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By Anton Rose
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.
Hearings open today
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By Anton Rose
Counsel assisting the royal commission Richard Lancaster SC says hearings will be open "today, tomorrow and part of Wednesday".
Commissioner gives opening statement
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By Anton Rose
Commissioner Virginia Bell has opened the hearing.
She says large portions of this block of hearings will be heard behind closed doors.
"While I appreciate the difficulties associated with handling the material, the subject of this hearing, difficulties that will be addressed by the conduct of substantial parts of the inquiry in closed session to ensure the commission conducts its work in an efficient and procedurally fair manner," Bell said.
Thousands of submissions to royal commission
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By Phoebe Pin
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.
Bondi attack the focus of hearings
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By Anton Rose
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.
Open Questions
- What was the assessment and description by ASIO of the threat of violent antisemitic attacks?
- What is the adequacy of information sharing between ASIO and other agencies?
- What was the effectiveness of ASIO's investigations and analysis in the lead-up to the Bondi attack?
- What were the changes in resourcing and intelligence agencies for counterterrorism over time?
