Hearing Block 8, Sydney
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion held its eighth hearing block in Sydney from Wednesday 5 August 2026 to Friday 14 August 2026.
Scope
Hearing Block 8 examined:
- Key drivers of antisemitism in Australia, including religious, far right and other ideologically-motivated extremism and radicalisation.
- The means by which individuals become radicalised or are otherwise driven towards antisemitic views, including the role of the online and digital environments and the influence of preachers and authority figures who incite hate, and the responses of law enforcement to those issues.
- The responses of governments to combatting radicalisation, including best practice approaches to early intervention, disengagement and deradicalisation for those who are at risk of or are engaging in extremist behaviour and the efficacy of existing government and community-based countering violent extremism programs.
Some evidence, including from witnesses covering operationally sensitive matters, was heard in closed session.
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 Wednesday 29 July 2026.
An application for leave to appear was not how witnesses were selected. For more information, please refer to Witnesses at Royal Commission.