The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has granted the Jewish Council of Australia leave to appear at its first hearing block.
Commencing today, Monday 4 May 2026, the first set of public hearings follow the release of the Commission’s interim report, and will be examining the nature, prevalence and definitions of antisemitism. The Jewish Council is the only other Jewish organisation granted leave to appear in this hearing block apart from a conglomerate of legacy Jewish communal organisations.
The JCA represents a large and growing constituency of progressive Jewish Australians, with over 2,500 Jewish supporters across the country. Its intervention aims to ensure the Commission avoids treating the Jewish community as a political monolith.
Speaking in response to the news that the Royal Commission had granted Jewish Council leave to appear, Sarah Schwartz, Executive Director of the Jewish Council of Australia said:
“We welcome this decision by the Commission. It reflects the importance of hearing from progressive Jewish voices in this inquiry. A core feature of antisemitism is the stereotyping of Jewish identity. When institutions treat Jews as a politically homogenous bloc, who all support Israel, it obscures the real diversity of our community and misdirects policy responses away from the genuine drivers of racism.”
In engaging with the Commission, the Council will present evidence regarding the lived experience of our Jewish members who face harassment and targeting because they are Jews who are critical of the state of Israel. This includes being called ‘not really Jewish’ and targeted with slurs such as ‘traitor’ or ‘Kapo.’
Ms Schwartz stated that these are attacks on Jews because they are Jews.
“Legacy organisations, whose policies reaffirm unshakeable solidarity with Israel, cannot represent the many thousands of us who reject that logic.
“We are appearing to ensure that the Commission hears from Jewish Australians who face exclusion and silencing for their human rights advocacy in support of Palestinians.”
The Jewish Council will argue that definitions or applications of antisemitism that conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism are counterproductive to anti-racism work.
This conflation diverts institutional attention away from the real threat of far-right and conspiracist movements, while potentially legitimising the silencing of lawful political advocacy and protest.
The Jewish Council has briefed Maurice Blackburn and a team of barristers, led by Peggy Dwyer SC, to represent the organisation throughout the inquiry.
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