Transcript
Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Topics: Royal Commission into antisemitism E&OE....................... STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: I want to go to Senator Dave Sharma, not only the former member for Wentworth, which represents one of the largest Jewish communities in the country and where the Bondi massacre happened, but also the former Australian ambassador to Israel. He and Josh Frydenberg, the former treasurer and prominent member of the Jewish community, have been not permitted to present to the Royal Commission into antisemitism. Dave, good morning.
DAVE SHARMA: Good morning, Stephen. Good to join you.
STEPHEN CENATIMEPO: So you've made a written submission and so has Josh Frydenberg, from what I understand, but you've both been prevented from giving in-person evidence?
DAVE SHARMA: Look, I made a written submission. I indicated on that, as is the way of the form, that I was available to appear and I was happy to appear if it would assist the Commission. I haven't been invited to do so yet. Look, I don't want to make this about me. I just note that there seems to be a large number of people out there with expertise experience and to offer. And, you know, Josh Frydenberg, the most senior Jewish politician we've had, but also someone who's personally and intimately familiar with some of the security risks that the Jewish community faces in Australia. I think a voice like that is, is worth hearing from and would help inform the Royal Commission's work.
STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: My concern from the very beginning of this, Dave, is that this— the terms of reference were always going to be such that the government's hands would be clean at the end of this. And we know that government inaction has led to the rise of antisemitism in this country, but we've now seen pro-Palestinian groups presenting as well. Um, that was always going to be the problem when we said antisemitism and social cohesion, wasn't it?
DAVE SHARMA: Look, I found that very problematic when we saw Palestinian activist groups actually not only presenting last week, they're actually allowed to cross-examine David Ossip, who's the president of the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, which I found extraordinary that they were here. They were asking questions to a Jewish leader within the community, not about the experience of the Jewish community and not about the events leading up to the terrorist attack in December, but about the actions of a foreign state for which he has no responsibility and exercises no control. I thought that was a real distortion of the Royal Commission's aims and purposes.
STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: What are your concerns about the outcomes of the Royal Commission now?
DAVE SHARMA: Look, I'm keeping an open mind and I respect the work the Royal Commission has done so far. I think it has done important work in shining a spotlight and making Australians more broadly aware of some of the things and burdens the Jewish community has had to put up with in Australia in the past 2.5 years, which I think frankly all of us would find unacceptable if it was us or our families. I think that's done important work. I'll withhold judgment until I to see more of what the Royal Commission has to say. I think their interim report had some credible findings. I do find it strange that, you know, government ministers have not appeared before the Royal Commission yet. We've had Labor backbenchers but no senior government ministers, and I think there are legitimate questions to be asked about the federal government policy interaction and what contribution, if any, that had to the rise in antisemitism.
STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: No doubt about that. Dave, I appreciate your time.
DAVE SHARMA: Thanks so much, Stephen.
STEPHEN CENATIEMPO: Senator Dave Sharma, the former member for Wentworth and former Australian ambassador to Israel, not presenting in person to the Royal Commission.
[ENDS]