Former Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has revealed he will not be called to give evidence at the landmark Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, despite being one of the most prominent advocates for its establishment.

Mr Frydenberg, a leading voice in the Australian Jewish community, was instrumental in lobbying for the inquiry following the devastating Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14, 2025. In a newly published opinion piece, he expressed his frustration after being sidelined by the commission’s legal team.

Sidelined Despite Active Advocacy

According to Mr Frydenberg, he had formally made a submission to the inquiry and expressed an eager willingness to appear as a witness. However, his offer was ultimately declined.

"I heard nothing until last Friday afternoon when I was informed via the royal commission's legal team that I would not be called," Mr Frydenberg wrote. He pointed out that the final public hearing, scheduled for later this month, focuses heavily on social cohesion—a subject he has spent the last three years actively addressing.

"I have taken this stand, notwithstanding the significant threats I have received," he added. When approached for further comment, Mr Frydenberg declined to elaborate on the decision.

While the former Treasurer will not take the stand, several other Jewish political figures have already presented evidence to the commission, including Federal Member for Macnamara Joshua Burns, former Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, and Liberal MP Julian Leeser. The commission has also heard testimony from the Dor Foundation, an anti-antisemitism organization established by Mr Frydenberg.

Responding to inquiries, a spokesperson for the royal commission, which is headed by former judge Virginia Bell, stated that the inquiry does not comment on individual submissions. The spokesperson noted that witness lists are updated on the commission's public website the day before any scheduled appearance.

Tensions Flare Over Cross-Examinations

The decision not to call Mr Frydenberg comes amid growing friction surrounding the active participation of pro-Palestinian advocacy groups in the hearings. Last week, legal representatives for the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) and the Palestine Action Group (PAG) were granted permission to cross-examine Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip.

The questioning quickly became contentious, centering on the exact timeline of a controversial pro-Palestinian demonstration at the Sydney Opera House on October 9, 2023, relative to military actions in Gaza following the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

Mr Ossip openly questioned the relevance of the line of inquiry during his appearance. "This is a royal commission on antisemitism … I'm a bit confused about why we are getting caught up in the minutiae of the timeline of a foreign military," he testified.

In his public writings, Mr Frydenberg strongly condemned the line of questioning, linking the atmosphere of the October 2023 Opera House protests directly to subsequent domestic violence. "The blood of 1,200 innocent people was not yet dry... but, in Sydney, people thought it was OK to go out and attack Australian Jews," he wrote. "Well, it's not OK, and the tragedy of Bondi that occurred 797 days later can be traced to what happened that night at the Opera House."

Commissioner Defends Procedural Fairness

The involvement of APAN and PAG also drew sharp criticism from Executive Council of Australian Jewry CEO Alex Ryvchin, who accused the groups of attempting to "hijack" the inquiry for "clickbait theatrics."

However, Commissioner Virginia Bell strongly rejected those assertions during a recent sitting, defending the decision to allow the cross-examinations as a matter of procedural fairness. She pointed out that APAN's interests were directly affected by highly critical statements made during the hearings, necessitating a right of reply.

Commissioner Bell also revealed that APAN's counsel, Ragni Mathur SC, had been targeted with Islamophobic emails following her appearance. She condemned these actions, asserting that legal counsel should not face abuse for performing their duties.

"It doesn't reflect well on those who make either antisemitic or Islamophobic attacks on the interests that they seek to promote," Commissioner Bell warned.

As the royal commission continues its work, current hearings are focusing on the underlying drivers of radicalisation. Recent witnesses have included Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission commissioner Susan Woodward, who discussed regulatory limits on policing hateful rhetoric within religious charities, as well as representatives from the Department of the Treasury and the Shia Muslim Council of Australia.