Australian Catholic Bishops Call for National Antisemitism Inquiry After Deadly Bondi Attack
Church leader urges broader federal investigation into antisemitism beyond existing security review as pressure mounts following the Hanukkah massacre
In the wake of the deadly terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach that claimed the lives of at least fifteen people and wounded dozens more, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for a comprehensive national inquiry into antisemitism in Australia.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said on January 1 that while the government’s recently announced review of law enforcement and intelligence agencies is "an important step," it does not go far enough to address the deeper societal issues that have underpinned rising hostility toward Jewish Australians.
Archbishop Costelloe emphasised that only a properly resourced national inquiry with the authority to probe all sectors of society could “shine a light into the dark corners” where antisemitism remains unseen, unacknowledged and unaddressed.
His remarks come amid a broader campaign by victims’ families, Jewish community leaders and prominent public figures who have urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a royal commission — the most powerful form of federal inquiry — to examine antisemitism and systemic failures that may have contributed to the attack.
Australian authorities have characterised the December 14 massacre as an act of terrorism motivated by antisemitic hatred, identifying the alleged perpetrators as a father and son inspired by the Islamic State group.
The Albanese government has instead ordered a five-month independent review led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson to assess the performance of security agencies, though its terms of reference do not explicitly extend to a wider investigation of antisemitism.
Critics of the government’s approach say only a royal commission can explore the ideological drivers and institutional weaknesses behind the surge in anti-Jewish sentiment.
Calls for a national inquiry have drawn support from business leaders, legal experts and religious figures across Australia, intensifying public debate about the appropriate national response to hatred and violence directed at the Jewish community.
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said on January 1 that while the government’s recently announced review of law enforcement and intelligence agencies is "an important step," it does not go far enough to address the deeper societal issues that have underpinned rising hostility toward Jewish Australians.
Archbishop Costelloe emphasised that only a properly resourced national inquiry with the authority to probe all sectors of society could “shine a light into the dark corners” where antisemitism remains unseen, unacknowledged and unaddressed.
His remarks come amid a broader campaign by victims’ families, Jewish community leaders and prominent public figures who have urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a royal commission — the most powerful form of federal inquiry — to examine antisemitism and systemic failures that may have contributed to the attack.
Australian authorities have characterised the December 14 massacre as an act of terrorism motivated by antisemitic hatred, identifying the alleged perpetrators as a father and son inspired by the Islamic State group.
The Albanese government has instead ordered a five-month independent review led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson to assess the performance of security agencies, though its terms of reference do not explicitly extend to a wider investigation of antisemitism.
Critics of the government’s approach say only a royal commission can explore the ideological drivers and institutional weaknesses behind the surge in anti-Jewish sentiment.
Calls for a national inquiry have drawn support from business leaders, legal experts and religious figures across Australia, intensifying public debate about the appropriate national response to hatred and violence directed at the Jewish community.
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