Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion
Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Updates
July 24 - CEO Tahli Blicblau gave evidence for the third time, this time during Hearing Block 5 focused on security. Tahli’s evidence focused on her previous work within the NSW Crime Commission and ongoing work with the NSW CSG. You can watch Tahli’s full evidence below.
July 22 - Associate Professor Josh Roose appeared before the Commission to give evidence during Hearing Block 5 focused on security. Dr Roose is the current Director of Research and Policy at The Dor Foundation and an Associate Professor at Deakin University; his work focuses on the intersection of politics, law, terrorism and violent extremism. His evidence explored a report produced for the Victorian Government regarding violent extremist target selection in Victoria. Part of his evidence was given in a closed hearing and was not streamed.
July 16 - Chancellor of Western Sydney University Jennifer Westacott AC publicly released her submission to the Royal Commission during Hearing Block 4 focused on Universities. While not appearing before the Commission, Jennifer quickly became one of the defining contributors to the week’s national coverage. Her submission draws on her own lived experience and challenges Australia’s institutions to confront antisemitism with moral clarity, arguing that Universities cannot continue to mistake protecting free speech for tolerating hate speech directed at Jewish Australians.
July 10 - Lead counsel, Richard Lancaster SC, spoke to evidence presented by OHPI, Dor and Cyberwell in a discussion of X in its engagement with the Commission, its broader role in the spread of antisemitism and hate content and its observed responses to addressing the content.
July 10 - Lead counsel, Richard Lancaster SC, spoke to evidence presented by OHPI, Dor and Cyberwell in a discussion of X in its engagement with the Commission, its broader role in the spread of antisemitism and hate content and its observed responses to addressing the content.
July 6 - CEO of CyberWell, Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor, presented evidence to the Royal Commission as an expert witness on the work done by CyberWell as the only organisation dedicated to fighting online antisemitism. Tal-Or spoke about establishing an Australian desk in August 2025 in partnership with The Dor Foundation.
July 1 - Dr André Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI), appeared before the Commission as an expert witness. His evidence took the commission through the responses of major social media platforms and the work of OHPI.
June 30 - Our CEO, Tahli Blicblau, returned to the Royal Commission to present evidence on Dor's monitoring of the online abuse targeting witnesses, who shared their lived experience.
Read Dor's analysis of the online abuse targeting Royal Commission witnesses, presented by Tahli to the Commission.
June 29 -The third public hearing block begins, focusing on the dissemination of antisemitic content and other hateful speech online, and antisemitism in traditional media and broadcasting.
May 27 - Following the first block of lived experience hearings at the Royal Commission, Dor’s Research & Policy team identified an emerging trend of targeted online hate directed at witnesses.
The team subsequently analysed more than 1,000 comments and posts, including examples of serious abuse and intimidation. This was a whole-of-community effort undertaken in collaboration with Jewish representative bodies and relevant authorities.
The most egregious posts and comments targeting witnesses were referred to the Commission. Commissioner Bell made strong remarks about this harassment and intimidation and said that at least one matter had been referred to the Australian Federal Police for investigation.
View the significant national media coverage, including in The Australian, ABC News, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, The Nightly, News.com.au, and The Australian Jewish News.
May 11 - Our CEO, Tahli Blicblau, Gave Evidence.
In her evidence, Tahli outlined a four-dimensional framework used for assessing contemporary antisemitism in Australia, measuring: Incidents (antisemitic actions), Discourse (antisemitic language), Sentiments (antisemitic beliefs and attitudes), and Communal Perception (Jewish Australians’ sense of safety, inclusion, and belonging).
Her evidence noted that Australia is following a global trend of increasing antisemitism, with a marked rise in both the quantity and severity of incidents since 7 October, reinforcing the need for coordinated monitoring and response across all four dimensions.
May 4 - Live Hearings Begin.
Watch live: https://asc.royalcommission.gov.au
Read our CEO, Tahli Blicblau’s Op-ed (featured in the Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Courier Mail and The Advertiser), which reflects on what the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is about to hear, examines the interim report, and reminds us that the silences in the record may speak just as loudly as the words, “Words that should put a stop to the hatred.”
May 3 - Read the Joint Statement from Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA), The Dor Foundation, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) ahead of the live hearings, which starts on May 4, JEWISH AUSTRALIANS TO SPEAK AS ROYAL COMMISSION OPENS
The National Night of Storytelling brought together more than 2,000 people across every state and territory, gathering in homes to write submissions alongside friends, family and people they trust.
30 April - Royal Commission interim report released.
Read Dor’s Press Release, “The Dor Foundation welcomes Royal Commission interim report and calls for immediate action.”
Supporting an Evidence-Led Response.
Advocacy from Dor’s Guardians, alongside leaders across sectors and communities nationwide, contributed to the growing momentum that led to the establishment of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, announced on 15 January 2026.
Central to this was our Chair, Josh Frydenberg, whose visit to Bondi and powerful, deeply moving address became a defining moment in that momentum. Capturing both the nation's grief and its resolve, his words helped galvanise calls for the urgent action needed to prevent future tragedy.
“The massacre at Bondi is the greatest stain on our nation. I’m here to mourn but I’m also here to warn. Unless our governments, Federal and State, take urgent, unprecedented and strong action, as night follows day, we will be back grieving the loss of innocent life in another terrorist attack in our country.”
The Hon. Josh Frydenberg,
Bondi, 17 December 2025
Dor is working together with peak Jewish communal organisations on a coordinated response to the Royal Commission. We continue to make submissions to the Commission, providing evidence to help shape its findings.
Dor is also facilitating a joint community initiative: ShareYourStory, an initiative ensuring every Australian has the tools and confidence to contribute to this historic process, regardless of how significant their experience may feel.
Your story can shape Australia’s future.
A Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion is underway. It is a critical opportunity to build a clear national picture and drive meaningful change.
Dor is working with partners across Australia to ensure the evidence, insight and lived experiences needed are captured and acted on.
Submissions open now.
