Jewish Council of Australia news & media
We aim to work with media personnel, politicians, and policymakers to provide expert Jewish voices on issues of antisemitism in Australia
Jewish Council of Australia submission urges Royal Commission to reject conflation of antisemitism with Palestine advocacy and focus on far-right threat to Jewish safety
MEDIA RELEASE 16 June 2026 The Jewish Council of Australia’s submission to the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, representing the voices of over 2,500 progressive Jewish people in Australia, has been published today. The submission urges the Commission to reject definitions and approaches to addressing antisemitism that conflate it with criticism of Israel,…
Kvetch Zine Launch (Sydney + Melbourne)
Kvetch is a grassroots zine project created by Jewish writers, poets, artists, and organisers. Please join us to launch its first edition with food, drinks, and community. Hear from some of our talented writers and artists, and get yourself a printed copy of the zine.
Jewish Council demands country-level sanctions as West Bank settler outposts targeted
The Jewish Council of Australia has acknowledged the federal government’s expansion of human rights sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers, but warns that targeting isolated individuals and outposts fails to address the state infrastructure driving the violence. Today’s designations, covering the farming outposts of Moshe’s Farm, Meitarim Farm, Neria’s Farm and Zvi’s Farm, together with Ben…
Jewish Council condemns attempts to cancel Israel-critical Jews at Limmud Oz, stands with Jacob Sacher
The Jewish Council of Australia condemns the decision by Jewish communal organisations Adamama and Shalom to pull out of a partnership with Limmud Oz, because of the programming of progressive Jewish comedian, Jacob Sacher, for his affiliation with the Jewish Council of Australia and Palestine advocacy. The Council views the collapse of this collaboration as…
Jewish Council condemns degrading treatment of flotilla activists by far-right Israeli government minister
The Jewish Council of Australia has strongly condemned the actions of far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir following the release of video footage depicting the humiliation of detained humanitarians. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which included 11 Australian citizens, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters for attempting to break the illegal blockade…
Jewish Council to appear at Royal Commission hearings this week on definitions and drivers of antisemitism
The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) will appear before the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion this week between Tuesday and Thursday. The purpose of these appearances will be to cross-examine witnesses and test evidence on the definitions and drivers of contemporary antisemitism. The Council represents over 2,500 Jewish Australians, including academics and descendants…
Royal Commission grants Jewish Council leave to appear, representing diverse Jewish voices at public hearings
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has granted the Jewish Council of Australia leave to appear at its first hearing block. Commencing today, Monday 4 May 2026, the first set of public hearings follow the release of the Commission’s interim report, and will be examining the nature, prevalence and definitions of antisemitism. The…
Jewish Council welcomes interim Royal Commission report, calls on all governments to speed up gun control reform
The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) has welcomed the interim report of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, handed down today by Commissioner Virginia Bell. The Council is calling for the implementation of common sense recommendations to improve community safety, and for all state and territory governments to urgently agree to fast track …
FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE KEVIN BELL AO KC JOINS JEWISH COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) is proud to announce that the Honourable Kevin Bell AO KC, a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and former Commissioner of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, has joined its Advisory Committee. The appointment of one of Australia’s most distinguished former jurists comes at a critical juncture as…
Jewish Council calls on Australian Government to join global allies and condemn Israeli bombing of Lebanon
The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) has expressed horror at the unprecedented escalation of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, which killed at least 254 people and wounded over 1,000 others in a single afternoon. The JCA is urgently calling on the Albanese Government to join a growing chorus of world leaders in applying immediate, meaningful pressure…
Jewish Council raises alarm about antisemitism, racism and homophobia in One Nation and calls on government at all levels to take decisive action to fight far-right extremism
The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) has expressed deep alarm following an ABC investigation into One Nation candidates in South Australia, which revealed a history of alleged domestic abuse, virulent homophobia, and blatant Holocaust denialism. The investigation into candidates Bruce Preece and Tyler Green highlights the dangerous and overlooked surge in far-right extremism that targets…
Ensure the Royal Commission hears diverse Jewish voices: how to make a submission
As you probably already know, the Australian government has established the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in response to the Bondi terrorist attack. Like many of you, I am still grieving the horror of Bondi. We need to ensure that what follows leads us towards unity, justice and a stronger democracy for all…
Jewish Council Condemns Far-Right Holocaust Minimisation at Advance Australia Conference
The Jewish Council of Australia (JCA) has today condemned the conservative lobby group Advance for providing a platform to grotesque antisemitic and anti-immigration rhetoric that downplayed the horrors of the Nazi regime. As ABC reporting has revealed, at a recent conference in Sydney attended by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and sitting Liberal Senators, MAGA-affiliated…
Petition: say no to Herzog visiting Australia
NOTE: This petition is now closed, to keep up to date with future petitions, sign up to our newsletter. Prime Minister Albanese will be rolling out the red carpet for a visit from Israeli President Isaac Herzog next week to “provide support for Jewish Australians”. As Jewish Australians, it is important for us to send a…
Jewish Council calls on Albanese to rescind Herzog invitation
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, has confirmed today that he will visit Australia from 8 to 12 February and will meet with members of the Australian Jewish community. The Jewish Council of Australia has expressed outrage that the Albanese Government would fuel the flames of division by inviting Herzog to visit Australia, warning that…
Media Release: Over 60,000 Australians call for unity as leaders politicise Bondi ahead of National Day of Mourning
Ahead of the National Day of Mourning, over 60,000 Australians have now signed the Jewish Council’s petition, “We Will Not Be Divided After Bondi,” calling on leaders to reject attempts to weaponise Jewish grief, erode civil liberties, or pit communities against one another in the aftermath of the antisemitic attack at Bondi. The Jewish Council…
Max Kaiser speaks to ABC Drive Sydney about the government’s hate speech bill
Executive Officer Max Kaiser recently spoke to ABC Drive Sydney about the government’s hate speech bill. Below is an excerpt from his appearance. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jewish Council of Australia (@jewishcouncil) Click here to listen to the excerpt directly on our Instagram page.
Media Release: Jewish Council urges pause on rushed and dangerous hate speech Bill
The Jewish Council is concerned by a number of the proposed measures in the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill that will be tabled this Monday, and urges the Government to undertake extensive consultation before moving forward. Lack of real consultation risks a bill that is both harmful to human rights and ineffective against the…
Jewish Council will work with Royal Commission to adopt an anti-racist approach and ensure diverse Jewish voices are heard
The Jewish Council of Australia is committed to working with the Royal Commission into the Bondi massacre, stressing that the inquiry must prioritise accountability, and understand antisemitism as an issue deeply intertwined with all forms of racism — rather than being derailed into a political battle that encourages more racism and division. The Council said…
Antony Loewenstein quoted by NBC about the government’s response to the Bondi attack
Advisory Committee member Antony Loewenstein was recently quoted by NBC for a story titled “‘It’ll never be the same again’: Bondi Beach attack shatters life for Australia’s Jewish residents”. Below is an excerpt from his comments in the story. I think [the laws are] an absolute abomination. They are rushed, not thought through, and they’re…
