Antisemitism Royal Commission hearings begin in Sydney | ABC News Top Stories

From ABC News Top Stories by ABC Australia

May 4, 2026 · 2 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the beginning of the Royal Commission hearings on antisemitism in Sydney, highlighting concerns from Jewish Australians and security issues related to police operations.

The head of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion says some Jewish Australians have expressed concerns about speaking at the inquiry, fearing they'll be targeted by further hostility. The first block of public hearings has begun this morning, with both a Holocaust survivor and the daughter of a Bondi Beach terror attack victim set to give evidence today. In her opening remarks, Commissioner Virginia Bell said among the thousands of submissions to the inquiry were personal accounts from Jewish people who've experienced antisemitic incidents. The commission's final report is due in December. The Australian Federal Police Association says a security flaw in Bluetooth-enabled tasers and body-worn cameras could disrupt covert police operations. Police services have been warned about free apps which criminals can download to track officers using thousands of those devices across Australia. The AFPA says people may be able to use the apps to evade police while driving. The US military has confirmed it will begin escorting ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. The vital oil shipping route has been blocked by Iran since the beginning of the war nine weeks ago. Some 20,000…

People in this episode

Guests: Holocaust survivor, daughter of a Bondi Beach terror attack victim

Topics covered

antisemitism
Royal Commission
public hearings
security concerns
US military operations
humanitarian efforts

Keywords

antisemitism
Royal Commission
public hearings
Holocaust survivor
Bondi Beach
US military
Strait of Hormuz
security flaws
humanitarian gesture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Australian Federal Police Association, US military

Places: Sydney, Strait of Hormuz