One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson has lashed out at the opening of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, criticising a Welcome to Country delivered at its first public hearing and questioning the inquiry’s focus in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The One Nation leader said in a post on X that the commission, established after the December 14 massacre at a Hanukkah event in Sydney, should be centred squarely on what she described as a “radical Islamic terrorist attack” rather than broader discussions about history and reconciliation.
“I’m sorry, wasn’t this meant to be about the Radical Islamic Terrorist attack at Bondi?”
“A divisive Welcome to Country was the first thing the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and ‘Social Cohesion’ heard,” Senator Hanson said. She argued that references to “stolen land” and calls for a “reckoning” were inappropriate at a hearing she believed should focus on the Bondi attack and its victims.
“Dividing us on race won’t help social cohesion. I’m sick of these welcome to country’s being played everywhere – before every zoom and teams meeting, every time a plane is landed and on and on.”
It is reported that the first hearing of the commission, held in Sydney’s Supreme Court, was largely procedural. It comes 10 weeks after 15 people were killed and dozens more injured during the Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach — the deadliest terror attack in Australia’s recent history.
The inquiry is being led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell, who has been tasked by the Australian Government with examining antisemitism in Australia, the circumstances surrounding the Bondi attack and broader questions of social cohesion.
Ms Bell made clear the commission would not hear evidence that could prejudice ongoing criminal proceedings.
The alleged offender, Naveed Akram, has been charged with terrorism and 15 counts of murder and is yet to enter pleas. Because of the pending trial, the commission will not call witnesses or survivors whose testimony could interfere with the court process.
“Leading evidence at this commission from people who may be witnesses or survivors in the criminal proceeding would create that risk, and for that reason it will not occur.”
The commission is due to hand down an interim report by April 30 and a final report before the first anniversary of the attack on December 14. However, Ms Bell acknowledged that the tight timeframe would “impose limitations” on what could be fully investigated, particularly given delays in document production from government agencies and the need to assess intelligence material.
“I acknowledge that for some, it will never be right to speak of closure, but one small part of coming to terms with the events of that evening will be the work of this commission.”
Senior counsel assisting, Richard Lancaster SC, told the hearing that dozens of notices to produce documents had been issued to Commonwealth and state agencies, but conceded the process was “not presently where we would like it to be”.
“It is necessary to preserve the proper administration of criminal justice.”
The commission has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and invited Jewish Australians to make submissions about their lived experiences in schools, universities, workplaces and public life. Some hearings may be conducted in private to avoid airing extremist material or compromising criminal proceedings.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Royal Commission in January, after initially expressing concern about the potential length and impact of such an inquiry. He later said he had consulted with the Jewish community and victims’ families and determined that a national investigation was necessary.
It is reported that the Albanese government has also folded in a separate intelligence and law enforcement review led by former security chief Dennis Richardson, with recommendations expected in April.
The debate sparked by Senator Hanson’s remarks underscores the broader tensions the commission faces. While some Jewish community leaders have expressed confidence in the process, others have raised concerns about whether the commission can adequately examine complex issues of extremism, institutional responses and security failings within months rather than years.
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