Antisemitism Royal Commission Highlights Rising Hostility in Australia
On its fourth day of public hearings, the royal commission into antisemitism heard that Jewish Australians have faced pressure to resign, verbal abuse, and requests to conceal their Jewish identity following the events of 7 October 2023.
Evidence presented included testimony from Australia’s antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, who described hatred towards Jews as having become "almost fashionable." Additionally, a Sydney nurse reported that NSW Health was "not safe for Jewish people."
Workplace and Healthcare Harassment
The nurse manager, a dual Australian-Israeli citizen who spoke under the pseudonym AAV, recounted being called "Zionist scum" by colleagues and criticized NSW Health for failing to address such behavior.
"Having tolerated this behaviour, it means that the healthcare system is not only not safe for Jewish people; it’s potentially not safe for anyone that comes from some sort of diverse background,"
AAV described personal experiences following her cousin's hostage situation by Hamas on 7 October 2023. She placed posters of hostages on her office wall and wore a necklace and yellow ribbon in their memory. Her manager instructed her to remove these items due to concerns they might upset others.
In early December 2025, the hospital’s media team declined her request to share a "happy Hanukah" message, despite similar posts for Diwali and Christmas.
AAV shared that Jewish friends expressed fear of attending hospitals, a sentiment she personally experienced during knee surgery in February 2025 after reports that two nurses at a hospital had threatened to kill Jewish patients.
"I spent probably the worst 24 hours of my life imagining all the ways I could be killed legitimately in a hospital, particularly in the operating theatre, from putting toxic drugs into an IV to overdosing me on anaesthetic," she said. "I was paralysed with fear."
Psychological Impact and Exclusion
Sarah, a clinical psychologist who withheld her surname, testified about the increasing psychological distress among Jewish Australians due to harassment. She noted that children questioned why Jews were hated and that adult academics faced exclusion.
"I have so many people that I’m seeing currently that are not welcome any more in academic spaces or in places of profession,"
Sarah described her own experience of exclusion, including leaving a Facebook group of approximately 2,500 clinical psychologists after accusations that some members took "the side of the oppressor" for requesting avoidance of Israel-related discussions.
"That no longer became a safe place for us,"
she stated.
Government Envoy Highlights Growing Antisemitism
Jillian Segal emphasized that young Australians have become particularly hostile toward Jewish people, with the conflation of the Israeli government and Jewish individuals identified as the "fastest-growing" form of antisemitism in Australia.
"It’s almost fashionable, so if someone that they follow online, an influencer, is of that view, they adopt that view,"
Segal also noted that prominent Australian figures had been reluctant to address antisemitism due to misunderstanding and fear of backlash, but this changed following the Bondi terror attack.
"I’ve been contacted by many leaders since then, wanting to be more engaged,"
she said.
"There’s been a realisation that what the Jewish community was experiencing and complaining about … wasn’t a collection of isolated incidents, it wasn’t an exaggeration, it was very real and very dangerous for the country."
Workplace Discrimination and Resignations
During the fourth day of hearings, Jewish Australians testified about workplace targeting and job losses linked to anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment.
One woman, identified as ABM, recounted leaving an Australian-owned global company after the chief executive requested she use a "less obviously Jewish" name.
ABM had replaced an Israel-based employee who left after an overseas stakeholder in a "big commercial partnership" expressed unwillingness to work with the company’s Israeli division. The chief executive advised ABM to alter her name, email signature, and internal directory listings. Although she complied, she resigned months later.
"I felt a sense of shame that I hadn’t felt before,"
she said.
"It really made me question whether or not I can be outwardly and openly Jewish in professional workplaces."
Stephanie Cunio, a Sydney trade unionist and climate activist, shared that she felt compelled to step down from the board of a green advocacy group amid pressure from younger members campaigning against Israel.
"I got called up by a board member and the board member said: ‘I know this is getting very difficult for you, um, you know, maybe you should consider leaving,’"
Cunio said.
An Israeli musician, ABK, described taking a break from performing due to protests and cancellation campaigns targeting him because of his nationality.
"I’m forced now to call venues upfront and tell them you might get hate because I’m Israeli, which I’ve done just now, just a few weeks ago,"
he said.
"I am scared to play and I’m always thinking: ‘Is there someone in the crowd that knows that I’m Israeli and is here with a gun?’"
Targeted Attacks on Jewish Businesses
Owners of Lewis’ Continental Kitchen, a kosher restaurant in Bondi, reported to the commission an alleged targeted attack that resulted in the restaurant being burned down in 2024.
Judith Lewis told the inquiry she lost the family-run establishment, which had operated for 54 years.
"A lot of people came and met there, and were able to sit and eat and then see other people there, it was a communal centre,"
Lewis said.
