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The anti-Semitism and social cohesion royal commission will soon end with final addresses. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS
POLITICS

Royal commission to finish early despite extension call

13 hours ago

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Hearings for the inquiry called following an anti-Semitic attack at Bondi Beach are set to finish on Wednesday...

The anti-Semitism and social cohesion royal commission will soon end with final addresses. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS
The anti-Semitism and social cohesion royal commission will soon end with final addresses. Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS

Hearings for the inquiry called after an anti-Semitic terror attack at Bondi Beach are coming to an early close.

The Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion has heard from hundreds of witnesses and received tens of thousands of submissions since it began in February. 

Coalition MPs and some advocates had been calling for the commission to be extended, with federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor saying senior bureaucrats, ministers and university vice-chancellors should give evidence.

"It's convenient from the government's point of view they've run out of time, because frankly they don't want to be held to account for what was such a tragic event," Mr Taylor told News24. 

Angus Taylor wants senior bureaucrats, ministers and university bosses to give evidence. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
Angus Taylor wants senior bureaucrats, ministers and university bosses to give evidence. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday also supported the extension of hearings by two weeks, but said senior Jewish community members who gave evidence had said they were satisfied with the process. 

A spokesperson for the commission confirmed hearings, which were set to run until Friday, would conclude with closing addresses on Wednesday. 

"The final schedule depends on a number of factors, including witness availability," they said.

Peter Ivany, a Sydney Swans board member, was among those who gave evidence to the commission on Tuesday around the power of sport in building social cohesion. 

Sydney Swans players and staff rallied to support the Bondi community after the terrorist attack. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
Sydney Swans players and staff rallied to support the Bondi community after the terrorist attack. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

He made a brief statement addressing the sexual assault allegation that rocked the club last week, apologising to those impacted.

Mr Ivany said the club had supported the Jewish community following the December Bondi attack, including by attending the subsequent memorial and supporting the royal commission. 

"The relationship between the Jewish community and the Swans football club is very strong," Mr Ivany said.

Mr Ivany was also involved in an initiative which resulted in a joint Israeli-Palestinian team taking part in the Australian Football International Cup in Melbourne in 2008.

Kevin Nafte said his experience playing footy with Palestinians changed his perspective. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Kevin Nafte said his experience playing footy with Palestinians changed his perspective. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Earlier, one of the players, Jewish Australian Kevin Nafte recounted his personal experience of living in Israel and playing for the 'AFL Peace Team'. 

Mr Nafte said he developed true friendships with teammates from the West Bank and East Jerusalem after previously never having met a Palestinian.

"There was a lot of animosity probably at the beginning between players who didn't really trust each other," he told the inquiry.

"But … when you're on the field and someone comes and gives you a bump or shepherds you, protects you from getting tackled by another player, you automatically start to develop that trust."

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