A national inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion has heard harrowing accounts of the escalating impact of antisemitism across Australia, with a prominent federal MP revealing his young son's profound fear to attend Jewish events following last year's Bondi Beach terror attack.

Julian Leeser, the federal Liberal member for Berowra, detailed the significant emotional toll during his testimony in Melbourne this week. He recounted attending an outdoor Hanukkah celebration on December 14 last year when news broke of a deadly attack at a similar event in Bondi, which ultimately claimed 15 lives. As the devastating news reached the crowd in St Ives, Mr. Leeser witnessed his son, who had always proudly embraced his Jewish traditions, break down in inconsolable tears.

"The sort of cry that you see where a child is in deep pain," Mr. Leeser told the commission. "And he sat with his legs crossed saying, 'Dad, are we going to be safe?'" The father of two expressed his inability to guarantee the boy's safety in that moment, underscoring the chilling reality faced by many. He further noted that the incident had a "serious effect" on his son's willingness to participate in outdoor community events and synagogue visits. "What sort of Australia are we setting up where an eight-year-old child doesn't feel safe going to a place of worship?" Mr. Leeser challenged, reflecting a widespread concern.

Targeted Harassment and Institutional Concerns

Beyond the direct trauma, Mr. Leeser also highlighted consistent personal targeting through antisemitic graffiti. His election campaign materials, including a substantial $35,000 banner, were repeatedly defaced with hateful symbols such as swastikas, Hitler moustaches, and dollar signs. These incidents led to staff safety concerns and volunteers withdrawing from his campaign. The pervasive threat even influenced his operational decisions: "I had always wanted to have an electorate office on a street frontage, but after the 2019 election I felt it was not safe to have an electorate office on the street frontage," he explained, fearing it would become an easy target.

As shadow minister for education, Mr. Leeser voiced deep concerns about antisemitism within universities, expressing dissatisfaction with the responses from vice-chancellors he had contacted. He pointed to a critical failure in auditing courses that address the Israel-Palestine conflict, urging for balanced and credibly sourced teaching material. This testimony aligns with recent evidence from Jewish university students who described feeling unsafe on campus, and some university leaders who expressed regret over their handling of pro-Palestinian encampments.

Unprecedented Security Threat

The commission also heard expert testimony from Tahli Blicblau, CEO of the Dor Foundation, who appeared for her third time. Ms. Blicblau painted a grim picture of an unprecedented security threat facing Australia's Jewish community. She revealed that otherwise divergent extremist groups – encompassing Islamic extremism, the extreme far-right, fringe elements of the far-left, and various conspiracy movements – are converging over a shared hatred of Jews. "In addition to that convergence of radical ideologies, there is also a convergence of threat actors – including domestic and foreign terrorist organisations… working with those groups," she stated. This dangerous confluence, she argued, creates a security environment demanding an "unprecedented level of sophistication and and integration in its response."

This week's hearings have intensively focused on security arrangements in the post-October 7, 2023, environment. There is a broad consensus among police, religious leaders, and security agencies that vilification of Australia's Jewish communities escalated dramatically following the Hamas terror attack and the subsequent Israeli military response in Gaza.

Calls for Enhanced Collaboration and Funding

Ms. Blicblau emphasized that the sophisticated threat environment necessitates an equally sophisticated security response. She noted a dramatic increase in funding needs over the past three years, arguing that the financial burden should not solely rest on Jewish philanthropy. Referencing the community's response to the Bondi terror attack, she advocated for significantly greater integration between New South Wales law enforcement and Jewish communal groups. "If you accept the level of threat is severe… then it follows that the level of integration and engagement between the Jewish community and the law enforcement and intelligence agencies needs to be sufficiently mature to meet the scale of the threat," she asserted, calling for these relationships to be formalized and institutionally embedded.

Regarding government support, Assistant Secretary Amy Dyde from the Department of Home Affairs confirmed that over $209 million in protective security grants had been provided over a six-year period. However, she conceded that the grants process could benefit from streamlining. Dyde also validated earlier testimony that an application from a Melbourne synagogue, later devastated by a firebombing, was rejected because it was an unincorporated entity – a standard grant requirement demanding legal character to enter into Commonwealth contracts.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O'Brien also provided insights into how officers record and share information about prejudicial incidents. He confirmed that in the current climate, hatred directed at the Jewish community is often understood to stem from perceptions related to the conduct of the state of Israel. Sensitive security details were further explored in closed sessions to protect operational information.

The ongoing inquiry highlights the complex challenges facing Australia in addressing rising antisemitism, balancing community safety with freedom of expression, and ensuring social cohesion for all its citizens.