Bondi Shooting

Commissioner Virginia Bell has warned that less than a year deadline for the royal commission into Australia’s worst terrorist attack could “impose limitations” on how it tackles anti-Semitism and social cohesion.

In its opening session in Sydney on Tuesday, the former High Court justice declared she would bring a “practical” approach to the probe — but warned the timing could be “tight” to report back by the first anniversary of the massacre of 15 innocent lives on December 14.

“This imposes a tight time frame, and it’s going to impose limitations on how the commission approaches its terms of reference,” she said.“Examining the ways in which we might strengthen social cohesion in Australia could well be the work of years, not months.

“I am required to deliver my final report to the Governor-General and the governors of the States, not later than the first anniversary of the Bondi massacre.“I regard the delivery of my report on or before the first anniversary as a matter of critical importance.”

She stated that although the commission would focus on anti-Semitism in light of the particular tragedy, it remained committed to addressing discrimination in all its forms.

“I’m mindful that while anti-Semitism may be the oldest religious and ethnic prejudice, other religions and ethnicities are also subject to prejudice in Australia,” she said.

“I expect that social cohesion will be advanced by methods that address discrimination against religious, faiths, ethnicities and cultures generally.“Nonetheless, against the background of the massacre of innocent people who appear to have been targeted, simply because they were Jewish, I trust, everyone will appreciate why the focus of this commission will be on tackling anti-Semitism.

“As a starting point in strengthening our bonds of social cohesion.”

She also labelled the definition of anti-Semitism as “uncontroversial” saying it was “a certain perception of views, which may be expressed as a hatred towards Jews”.

But pointedly noted that it has been “wrongly labelled” as the expression of political views which do not reflect a hatred of Jews.

“I should note, but it is uncontroversial, but criticism of the policies that may be pursued by the government of Israel from time to time is not of itself anti-Semitic,” she said.

The hearing had a rocky start with technical problems on the web stream and a Welcome to Country that compared the Bondi massacre to the stolen generations.

Ms Bells said was interested in hearing from Jewish Australians who’ve experienced anti Semitism and reminded them that making a submission does not commit a person to giving evidence in public.“No person will be pressured to do so,” she said.

“But I am confident that there will be members of the Jewish community who are willing to give evidence in public about their experiences of anti-Semitism, and that their accounts may be illustrative of wider patterns.

“In this way, the commission will seek to assist the impact of anti-Semitism on the daily life of Jewish Australians.”

The final report will be delivered to the Governor-General Sam Mostyn and the governors of the States.