Bondi Inquiry Hears Jewish Hate Crimes Jumped to 841 in 2025 as Security Costs Hit $12.5 Million
Updated
Updated · ABC News · May 25
Bondi Inquiry Hears Jewish Hate Crimes Jumped to 841 in 2025 as Security Costs Hit $12.5 Million
14 articles · Updated · ABC News · May 25
NSW Police data presented to the royal commission showed anti-Jewish hate crime reports rising from 40 in 2020 to 841 in 2025, with 287 more recorded in the first quarter of 2026.
That surge framed evidence on the Bondi Hanukkah attack: police said the threat to the Jewish community remained "concerning," while no event-specific threat assessment was prepared for Chanukah by the Sea before the December 14 attack.
Community Security Group witnesses said they warned NSW Police on December 8 that a terror attack was assessed as "likely," sought static police resources for events expected to draw about 1,000 people, and deployed 12 unarmed volunteers.
The hearings also examined the broader security response, with ASIO chief Mike Burgess defending the agency's pre-attack priority shift and CSG saying police and ASIO had been "extremely reactive" despite increased engagement after October 7, 2023.
CSG told the commission Jewish communities in NSW are spending an estimated $12.5 million this year on commercial guards, underscoring how rising antisemitism has shifted protection costs onto communal organisations.
Why was a Jewish festival deemed low-risk when Australia's national terror alert was already set to 'probable'?
With both state-sponsored and IS-inspired terror active, are Australia's security strategies becoming dangerously outdated?
After police admitted failures led to the Bondi tragedy, can new government measures truly prevent the next attack?
Australia’s Deadliest Terror Attack in 29 Years: The 2025 Bondi Beach Hanukkah Shooting, Security Failures, and the Royal Commission’s Response
Overview
The Royal Commission released its interim report on the Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack, providing initial insights but deliberately withholding details about public agency shortcomings and the rise of antisemitism in Australia. Instead, these critical issues are set to be explored in upcoming public hearings. Notably, five initial recommendations from the report were classified due to sensitive national security concerns, highlighting the government's effort to balance transparency with the need to protect security interests. This immediate classification underscores the government's engagement with the Commission's findings and its commitment to addressing the underlying issues revealed by the attack.