Frequently Asked Questions
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A Royal Commission is the highest form of independent public inquiry in Australia. It is reserved for matters of national importance and has broad powers to gather evidence, hear from witnesses and make recommendations to government.
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No - submissions to the Commission closed on 14 June 2026. The Commission received more than 20,000 submissions.
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The Commission will continue to gather more evidence before the Commissioner delivers the final report.
Evidence may be gathered through hearings, interviews, or community engagement. As part of this process, Commissioner Bell and other Commission staff will be travelling to Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide to meet with local Jewish communities and other multicultural organisations.
Public hearing blocks are currently scheduled to be held between 29 June-10 July 2026 in Sydney, and 13-24 July 2026 in Melbourne.
The Commissioner is required to produce a final report by 14 December 2026.
General Info
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ShareYourStory has asked members of the community (where comfortable) to share their submissions with us to help us get a better understanding of issues being raised by members of the community. If you choose to share your submission with us, you can request for it to remain anonymous or confidential.
Submissions shared with us may also be shared with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) to assist their production of an Annual Antisemitism Report. These reports record antisemitic incidents and discourse over a 12-month period ending 30 September each year. We will always ask for your permission to share your submission with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
By sharing your submissions with ShareYourStory and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, we can ensure there is no lost incident / discourse data and maximise our community’s ability to identify trends, themes, and possible solutions.
For more information about the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s annual report, please visit their website.
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The Royal Commission has indicated that it may publish some submissions, but only with consent of the individual or organisation, and subject to confidentiality and safety considerations. Further detail is available on the Commission’s website.
Privacy & Anonymity
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Many different types of people may be asked to give evidence at a public hearing, including people with lived experience of antisemitism and people with certain expertise.
Witnesses are selected by Counsel Assisting and the Solicitors Assisting the Royal Commission based on various considerations.
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The Royal Commission may ask you to appear as a witness and give evidence if you have indicated that you are willing to appear at a hearing in your submission.
Not everyone who makes a submission will appear at a hearing.
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The Commission will serve witnesses with a notice to produce a witness statement by a certain date. Each witness at a public hearing will need prepare a witness statement prior to giving their evidence to the Royal Commission.
The Commission can provide support and assistance when producing a witness statement and giving evidence in the way that best suits the witness.
It’s important to note that while Solicitors and Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission may assist you with preparation of your witness statement, they cannot provide you with personalised legal advice or represent you during a public hearing.
If you need help providing your statement or any documents, please contact the Royal Commission by email: ascrc.solicitorsassisting@royalcommission.gov.au
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The Royal Commission can provide witnesses with assistance and support throughout the entire process.
If you have been asked to appear as a witness, you will also be able to access legal assistance and/or representation.
The Royal Commission can also provide access to a psychologist or counsellor. Links to external support services are available on the Commission’s support page.
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If you are invited to give evidence, this may take place in a private setting or at a public hearing. You can indicate your preference, and the Commission will take this into account, including your safety and wellbeing, the sensitivity of the material, and the risk of identifying individuals.
The final decision rests with the Commission.