Hearing Block 2: Bondi

Hearing Block 2 examined the circumstances surrounding the attack at Bondi on 14 December 2025. In particular, the matters identified in the Royal Commission’s Interim Report as warranting further examination will be explored.

Hearing Block 2 focused on:

• The terrorism threat level and security environment in the lead up to the attack. 
• The conduct of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies relevant to the attack, including what was known about the shooters and what was done with that information. 
• The security arrangements for the Chanukah by the Sea event. 
• How intelligence about individuals known to authorities is utilised and shared to inform decisions made by security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies, including, for example, decisions about whether and how individuals are monitored and decisions in respect of firearms licence applications. 
• Resourcing for counter-terrorism, and the effectiveness of current powers, systems and processes of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Where the sensitivity of the evidence required it, aspects of the hearings in this block were closed to the public to avoid prejudice to national security and/or the ongoing criminal proceedings relating to the attack.

Applications for leave to appear

The Royal Commission invited persons who considered they had a direct and substantial interest in the scope of this hearing block to make an application for leave to appear by no later than 4:00pm (AEST) on Friday 15 May 2026.

An application for leave to appear was not how witnesses were selected. For more information, please refer to Witnesses at Royal Commission.