The daughter of a victim killed in the Bondi Beach shooting has told a public inquiry that antisemitism in Australia has become more visible and openly expressed since the attack.
Sheina Gutnick was the first witness to appear before a royal commission investigating antisemitism in Australia. The inquiry was launched after a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah event in December, where 15 people lost their lives.
Speaking during a hearing in Sydney, Gutnick described the emotional impact of losing her father, Reuven Morrison, who died while trying to stop the attackers. She said that since the incident, she has received disturbing messages from individuals saying she should have also been killed.
Gutnick told the commission that she has noticed a significant shift in public attitudes, especially since late 2023. According to her, antisemitic remarks that were once hidden are now being expressed openly in society.
“I felt as though antisemitism was allowed to come into the open,” she said, adding that such comments have increasingly become part of public discourse.
The attack at Bondi Beach involved two gunmen. One attacker, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son Naveed Akram survived and now faces multiple charges, including murder and terrorism-related offences.
Gutnick shared that her father was deeply proud of being Australian. He had migrated from the former Soviet Union as a teenager and later built his life in Australia. Despite her strong childhood memories at Bondi Beach, she said the location now carries painful and complicated emotions.
Another witness, identified only as AAL, also spoke about feeling less secure in Australia. Having moved from South Africa decades ago, he said he once considered the country his home, but now questions whether it remains safe for future generations of his family.
The royal commission has received thousands of submissions from across the country. The current phase of hearings is focused on personal experiences of antisemitism, aiming to understand how individuals and communities have been affected.
Officials overseeing the inquiry have acknowledged a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, noting that similar trends have been observed in other Western nations. They have linked this increase to ongoing tensions and conflicts in the Middle East.
The commission is expected to deliver its final report on the anniversary of the Bondi Beach attack, with recommendations likely to address community safety, law enforcement measures, and broader societal responses to hate and discrimination.
