The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is shifting its focus toward the “cesspool” of anti-Jewish rhetoric proliferating across social and traditional media platforms. Following weeks of sensitive, closed-door deliberations—which addressed national security implications and intelligence responses to the December 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack—the inquiry is entering a critical public phase. With over 20,000 submissions received, the commission is tasked with documenting the scope of hate speech and evaluating whether existing regulatory frameworks are sufficient to curb the rise of vitriol directed at the Jewish community.
A primary tension within the inquiry involves the perceived bias of mainstream media organizations, including the ABC and SBS. Critics, including former Age editor-in-chief Michael Gawenda, have alleged that several outlets failed to provide impartial reporting following the October 2023 onset of the Israel-Gaza war, effectively “minimizing” antisemitism in their coverage. Witnesses like Léa Levy have testified to a persistent sense of alienation, arguing that television broadcasts often reflect an unbalanced narrative that disregards the experiences of Israelis. Both the ABC and SBS have confirmed they are engaging with the commission, though the specific contents of their submissions remain shielded from the public eye at this stage.
Social media’s role in amplifying hate has emerged as a central pillar of the commission’s investigation. Testimonies from members of the public, including a Sydney mother identified as Dina, characterize current online spaces as largely unregulated environments where disinformation flourishes without legal repercussions. According to these submissions, the volume of anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist content is not merely static data; it is perceived as an active force that demonizes Jewish Australians and shapes public opinion in increasingly harmful ways. The commission is now scrutinizing how information is—or isn’t—shared between law enforcement and tech platforms to mitigate this digital radicalization.
The inquiry has also been forced to contend with the chilling reality that providing testimony can carry severe personal risk. Disturbingly, several witnesses who appeared before the commission have since reported an escalation in targeted harassment, including explicit death threats and the use of AI to depict victims as animals. Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell has issued a stern condemnation of this behavior, emphasizing that the commission’s pursuit of the “lived experience” of antisemitism should not come at the cost of the safety of those brave enough to speak out. The Dor Foundation, having analyzed thousands of these offensive posts, underscored the calculated nature of the abuse directed at victims involved in the process.
To ensure the inquiry reflects a national perspective, Commissioner Bell and her staff are embarking on a regional outreach program, visiting Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane to engage directly with local Jewish and multicultural organizations. This geographical expansion is intended to broaden the commission’s understanding of how antisemitism manifests outside of the major metropolitan centers. These regional consultations will pave the way for a concentrated block of public hearings in Melbourne scheduled for late July, which are expected to yield further evidence regarding the intersection of social cohesion and media accountability.
Looking toward the conclusion of this high-stakes investigation, the commission is operating under a strict timeline, with a final report and formal recommendations due by the first anniversary of the Bondi Beach terror attack. By the time the inquiry concludes, it will have processed an unprecedented volume of data to challenge the impunity with which hate speech currently operates. The ultimate objective remains the creation of a framework that can effectively safeguard the rights and safety of Jewish Australians while navigating the complex, often volatile landscape of modern digital discourse.