Overview
- The commission finished 62 days of public hearings this week, hearing 346 witnesses and receiving more than 20,000 submissions that documented a sharp rise in antisemitic abuse since October 2023.
- Large parts of the inquiry that dealt with intelligence, policing and the lead-up to the December 14, 2025 Bondi attack were held in closed and classified sessions to avoid prejudicing ongoing criminal proceedings.
- Because of the compressed timetable and the use of closed hearings, the Prime Minister, relevant ministers, police chiefs and heads of security agencies were not publicly required to give evidence.
- Thirty former national security and defence leaders and several Liberal MPs urged an extension so senior officials could be called, while mainstream Jewish groups issued a joint statement backing the commission and did not join the call for more time.
- Commissioner Virginia Bell and counsel assisting say substantial confidential material may be published after criminal trials conclude, and the commission’s final report is due on December 18 where formal findings and recommendations will be set out.