SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — Antisemitism in Australia is under intense scrutiny as the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion hears evidence from members of the Jewish community about fear, abuse, and the changing reality of daily life since 2023. In opening hearings, several Jewish Australian mothers described what they said was a sharp deterioration in safety and belonging, particularly for children at school.
The evidence presented in the commission’s early sessions focused not on abstract policy debates, but on lived experience: school gates lined with guards and police, children subjected to Nazi salutes and slurs, and parents carrying the emotional weight of dropping their children into heavily secured environments each day.
Royal Commission begins with lived experiences
The first two weeks of the Royal Commission are centred largely on the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia through firsthand accounts from Jewish Australians. The opening witnesses were women and mothers, and their testimony set a deeply personal tone for the proceedings.
Rather than speaking in generalities, they described what antisemitism looks like in ordinary settings: classrooms, school pick-up zones, children’s parties, and family routines. Their evidence suggested that for many Jewish families, concerns about safety have become woven into everyday life.
What witnesses said changed in 2023
A central theme from the day’s evidence was that treatment of Jewish Australians shifted markedly in 2023. Witnesses described a sense that hostility had become more visible, more normalised, and more likely to affect children directly.
The commission heard that this change was not only reflected in offensive remarks, but also in the physical security measures now surrounding Jewish schools. For families giving evidence, the issue was not simply prejudice in the abstract. It was the fact that children were now growing up in environments shaped by the expectation of threat.
Security at Jewish schools has escalated
One of the strongest examples came from witness Natalie Levy, who said security at her son’s school had tripled over the past two years. The scale of that response illustrated just how serious safety concerns have become for some school communities.
Her description of the daily scene at the school gate included:
- Three security guards
- Two specialist guards
- Two parent volunteer guards
- Four police officers
That combination of private security, volunteers, and police presence is a striking picture for any school environment. It also highlights the degree to which protection has become a visible part of children’s education and routine.
Abuse reported at a state school as well
The evidence did not suggest the problem was confined to one type of school setting. Levy also said her daughter attended a state school, where she was subjected to explicit antisemitic abuse from other students.
Among the incidents described were children shouting “Heil Hitler” and raising their arms in Nazi salutes. The commission also heard allegations of verbal abuse including terms such as “Jewish pig”, “baby killer”, and “dirty Jew”.
These accounts point to a particularly troubling aspect of the issue: not only are children encountering antisemitism, but in some cases they are doing so from peers in environments where they should reasonably expect safety, inclusion, and supervision.
The emotional toll on parents
A second witness, Dina, described similar security arrangements for her children’s school. Her evidence underscored that the impact of antisemitism is not limited to the incidents themselves, but extends into the ongoing emotional burden carried by parents.
She said that after dropping her children at school, she would sometimes drive around the corner and start weeping. That image captured the cumulative strain of fear, vigilance, and helplessness that can accompany repeated threats or hostility.
“Now my children go to school with concrete bollards, making sure that no one’s going to ram them with a car, with security fences, security guards. We’re not asking for any special treatment. We just want to live like everyone else.”
Her words framed the issue in starkly practical terms. The concern was not for privilege or special status, but for basic normality: the ability for children to attend school without extraordinary precautions and for families to live without persistent fear.
Children encountering antisemitism in social settings
The commission also heard an account from a third witness about a child invited to a costume party where other children joked about dressing up as Hitler or the Bondi Junction attackers. The child at the centre of the story was Jewish, but the other children did not realise that at the time.
The witness said he did not know how to respond and was too afraid to say anything. That detail is significant because it shows how antisemitism can silence children, leaving them isolated even when the comments are framed by others as jokes.
It also suggests a broader social problem. When references to mass violence or Nazi imagery become casual material for humour, the harm extends beyond offence. It can create an environment in which Jewish children are made to feel unsafe, unseen, or pressured to hide part of their identity.
Why these early hearings matter
The Royal Commission’s decision to begin with lived experience establishes an important foundation for the wider inquiry. Before institutions, policy settings, or legal responses are examined in detail, the commission is hearing directly from the people affected.
That matters because antisemitism is not only measured through statistics or reported incidents. It is also measured through changed behaviour: increased security, altered school routines, emotional breakdowns after drop-off, and children choosing silence because they are afraid.
For the commission, these accounts are likely to help define both the prevalence of antisemitism and the social conditions in which it is now being experienced in Australia.
The broader issue of social cohesion
The inquiry’s title links antisemitism with social cohesion, and the testimonies heard so far show why. Social cohesion depends on more than legal protections. It depends on whether people feel they belong, whether children are safe in schools, and whether families can participate in public life without fear.
When schools require concrete bollards, multiple guards, and police at the gate, that raises wider questions about the condition of community trust. When children are exposed to Nazi salutes and antisemitic slurs, it also raises questions about education, accountability, and the cultural messages being absorbed at a young age.
Readers looking for broader context on hate incidents and social inclusion in Australia may find additional background through the Australian Human Rights Commission and information on national responses to discrimination at the Australian Law Reform Commission.
Key points from the opening evidence
- Jewish Australian mothers gave early evidence to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
- Witnesses said treatment of Jewish people changed significantly in 2023.
- One witness said security at her son’s school had tripled over the past two years.
- The commission heard of daily school security involving guards, parent volunteers, and police.
- A child at a state school was reportedly subjected to Nazi salutes and antisemitic slurs.
- Another parent described breaking down in tears after school drop-off.
- The inquiry also heard of children joking about dressing as Hitler or the Bondi shooters at a costume party.
- Early hearings are focused on lived experience to better understand the prevalence and nature of antisemitism in Australia.
What the evidence reveals so far
The first day of testimony offered a sobering picture of how antisemitism is being experienced by some Jewish families in Australia. The concerns raised were immediate and practical: safety at school, abuse from other children, social isolation, and the emotional cost of constant vigilance.
As the Royal Commission continues, these early accounts are likely to shape the national conversation around both antisemitism and social cohesion. They point to a question that extends well beyond one community: what does it mean for a society when families feel they need extraordinary protection simply to live ordinary lives?
FAQs
What is the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion examining?
The commission is examining the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia, including how it affects Jewish Australians in daily life and what it means for broader social cohesion.Who gave evidence in the opening hearings?
The opening witnesses included Jewish Australian women and mothers who described their personal experiences and the impact antisemitism has had on their children and families.What kinds of incidents were described?
The commission heard allegations of Nazi salutes, antisemitic verbal abuse at school, heightened school security measures, and children making jokes about Hitler and the Bondi shooters at a costume party.Why has school security become such a major issue?
Witnesses said Jewish schools now require extensive protective measures, including guards, fences, bollards, and police presence, reflecting concerns about safety and potential attacks.Why is 2023 seen as a turning point?
Witnesses said the treatment of Jewish people changed in 2023, with antisemitism becoming more visible and affecting children more directly in schools and social settings.What is meant by social cohesion in this context?
Social cohesion refers to the ability of people from different backgrounds to live together safely and with mutual respect. The commission is exploring how antisemitism affects belonging, trust, and participation in Australian society.The information in this article has been adapted from mainstream news sources and video reports published on official channels. Watch the full video here Jewish Australians detail antisemitic experiences at royal commission | 7NEWS
