By Karl Hoerr -
Free and independent legal information will be offered as part of a service set up by National Legal Aid for the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Funded by the Australian Government, the Royal Commission Legal Assistance Service will also provide advice and referral options for those considering involvement, including making voluntary submissions.
The Royal Commission, headed by former High Court Justice Virginia Bell, was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in response to the Bondi terrorist attack, in which 15 people were killed at a Jewish community event in December.
The Royal Commission Legal Assistance Service will draw on the expertise of legal aid bodies across the country. Its Director Judith Levitan says, based on the experience of previous Royal Commissions, she expects questions to arise about the options for engaging and making a submission.
“Whether or not they want to make the submission anonymously, issues around confidentiality and privacy. People want to be assured of what’s happening with the information that they’re providing,” she says.
They might also ask about what happens to information when the Royal Commission finishes, specific questions about naming names in submissions and issues such as defamation. “People would like to be assured of confidentiality, as well as ensuring that the submissions are relevant to the terms of reference,” says Levitan.
The service is designed to support people who are not formal witnesses but may wish to engage with the Royal Commission. “I think that legal support can really make a critical difference in helping people to understand what their rights are, to manage issues around confidentiality and to be able to present their experiences safely and clearly,” she says.
Levitan explains that sharing personal information and painful experiences can be concerning for people. “Having legal support can give people the confidence to make a submission and can also help to strengthen the impact of that submission,” she says. This extends to assistance with drafting submissions.
“I’m very hopeful people will hear about our service and that they’ll get in contact and that we’ll be able to help people to navigate that process, to walk alongside people and to assist them to make submissions,” she says.
Commissioner Bell is due to produce an interim report by 30 April 2026 and a final report by 14 December 2026.
Main image: Rabbi Yossi Friedman speaks to people gathering at a flower memorial by the Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File)
