Table of Contents
A federal inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion has been launched by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following sustained pressure from within the Jewish community and in the wake of a deadly attack. The Prime Minister confirmed the appointment of former High Court Justice Virginia Bell to lead the inquiry.
Albanese’s decision follows weeks of debate regarding a federal response to the alleged ISIS-inspired attack targeting a Hanukkah event last month, which resulted in 15 fatalities. He stated the decision to establish the inquiry came after direct conversations with leaders in the Jewish community and families impacted by the tragedy.
Concerns Raised Over Commissioner Appointment
The appointment of Justice Bell has not been without controversy. Former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg publicly voiced concerns, asserting that the Jewish community lacked full confidence in her selection. “It is unthinkable the prime minister would choose a commissioner that did not have the total confidence of the Jewish community,” Frydenberg wrote on social media.
Sources within prominent Jewish Australian community groups, speaking anonymously to the ABC, acknowledged Bell’s legal expertise and confirmed there were no personal objections to her candidacy. However, they revealed lingering reservations stemming from her perceived association with the political left.
Bell began her legal career at the Redfern Legal Centre in the 1970s, where she represented individuals arrested during the inaugural Mardi Gras parade. She later served as a judge on the NSW Supreme Court, beginning in 1999, and was appointed to the High Court in 2009 by the Rudd government, becoming the fourth woman to hold the position. She retired from the High Court in 2021.
Bell’s Previous Inquiries and Government Support
Justice Bell previously led an inquiry into the secret ministry appointments made by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Her report, released later that year, characterized Morrison’s actions as “corrosive” to public trust in government. Prior to her judicial career, she briefly hosted the ABC program Late Night Live in the early 1990s.
The federal government’s move complements a state-led royal commission already announced by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns in response to the attack. Additionally, former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) boss Dennis Richardson has been tasked with reviewing the performance of federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
This multi-pronged approach signals a commitment to addressing the complex issues of antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia, while navigating the sensitivities surrounding the selection of a suitable inquiry leader.
