Bondi attack victim's daughter tells royal commission antisemitism has been 'allowed to come into the open'

The daughter of a woman killed in the 2024 Bondi Junction stabbing attack has told a royal commission that antisemitism in Australia has been permitted to surface publicly, as the formal inquiry into the tragedy began hearing evidence.

Sheina Gutnick, whose mother Diane Winitana was among those killed in the attack at a Sydney shopping centre, was the first person to give evidence at the royal commission, according to a BBC report. The inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding the attack and its broader social implications.

Gutnick's testimony centred on her view that hatred toward Jewish people has grown increasingly visible in Australian society. Her appearance before the commission marks the beginning of what is expected to be a wide-ranging investigation into the May 2024 attack, in which a man killed six people at Westfield Bondi Junction before being shot dead by police.

A community's grief and concern

The royal commission represents a significant step in Australia's formal reckoning with the attack, which shocked the country and prompted extensive debate about public safety, mental health services, and the experiences of minority communities.

Gutnick's remarks about antisemitism reflect concerns that have grown louder within Australia's Jewish community in the period surrounding the attack, particularly amid heightened tensions following the conflict in the Middle East that began in October 2023.

The timing of the attack, and the nature of some public responses to it, prompted discussion about whether Jewish Australians faced a distinct vulnerability in the climate at the time.

Royal commission scope

Royal commissions in Australia are among the most powerful forms of public inquiry available, with the ability to compel witnesses and documents. The inquiry into the Bondi Junction attack is expected to examine a range of issues, potentially including the attacker's history, the emergency response, and the impact on affected communities.

The BBC reported that Gutnick's testimony was the first to be heard, suggesting the commission is beginning with the experiences of those directly bereaved by the attack.

Further witnesses and evidence sessions are expected to follow as the inquiry proceeds. The commission's findings, when released, are likely to carry significant weight in shaping policy responses related to public safety and community protection in Australia.