By Francisco Silva -
Following the Bondi terrorist attack on 14 December 2025 and the rise of antisemitism in Australia, the Law Council of Australia (LCA) has confirmed its support for the establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission.
“The Law Council of Australia speaks for the Australian legal profession nationally, and our core responsibility is to uphold the rule of law and confidence in Australia’s legal system. The rise in antisemitism, and the violence it has fuelled, strike at the heart of those foundations,” said Law Council of Australia President Tania Wolff in a media release.
The attack at a public park in Bondi Beach targeted a group of Jewish people celebrating the first day of Hanukkah. 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed. Members of the Jewish community had warned about the rise of antisemitism in Australia over the past two years.
The LCA said the Bondi terrorist attack meets the threshold for a Royal Commission and is essential to restore trust and confidence “both in the legal system and in the institutions charged with protecting the community.”
The LCA is the latest group to voice support for a Royal Commission. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a review of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to be headed by Dennis Richardson AC. But pressure for a Royal Commission has continued to mount, with Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay recently adding her support.
Wolff said a federal Royal Commission was justified in the circumstances. “In our view, only a Commonwealth Royal Commission has the independence, scope and authority necessary to examine these issues fully, restore public confidence, and ensure Australia’s legal and institutional frameworks are fit for purpose.
“We acknowledge and support other inquiries which are underway, but believe a Royal Commission is needed to ensure a rigorous, evidence-based examination of systemic issues that cross jurisdictional boundaries and agency responsibilities.”
