Australian National University researcher Matthew Gray told an Australian federal inquiry on August 17 that efforts to counter antisemitism would be constrained unless policy also addressed social media platforms that circulate distrust, polarization and extremist narratives. He appeared alongside Nicholas Biddle as the ninth and final hearing block opened at Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, a federal public inquiry into antisemitism, the December 2025 Bondi attack and measures to strengthen social cohesion.

The commission scheduled the Sydney hearing block for August 17-28 and said it would examine how social cohesion can be understood, measured and strengthened. The official exhibit register for August 17 lists statements from Gray and Biddle, their March report and a June polling update.

Polling separates satisfaction from support

Australian National University's June ANUpoll surveyed 3,543 Australian adults between June 18 and July 6 and found that satisfaction with democracy fell from 65.7 percent in March to 62.8 percent, the lowest regular reading in the series since January 2023. The same survey found that 72 percent agreed democracy was always preferable to other forms of government, up from 66.9 percent in May 2025. Biddle and Gray's March report treats satisfaction with democratic performance and support for democracy as distinct measures, so the two trends do not necessarily conflict.

Microphones and a witness desk at a public hearing (illustrative image)

The March analysis also identified a sharp age and education divide. Among respondents aged 18 to 34 who had not completed Australia's final year of secondary school and held no post-school qualification, fewer than one in four said democracy was always preferable; the share was 62.9 percent among respondents of the same age who had a degree.

Social media finding is an association, not proof of cause

Among respondents who trusted social media, 55.9 percent said democracy was always preferable, compared with 69.9 percent among those who did not trust social media. The authors said the data could not determine the direction of causality: people less committed to democracy may seek nontraditional media, or content encountered on social platforms may weaken their support.

That uncertainty limits what can be concluded from Gray's evidence. His argument was that policies to strengthen democratic support and counter antisemitism would miss an important information channel if they ignored social platforms. It was not evidence that any platform caused the national change recorded in June.

Earlier commission testimony described online extremist material alongside financial pressure and unstable combinations of ideologies in referred cases. That evidence also did not quantify how often exposure led to extremist beliefs or conduct.

Final findings remain months away

The Australian government established the commission on January 9 after the December 14, 2025, antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach killed 15 people and wounded 40. The inquiry is examining the attack, the drivers and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia, and possible responses.

More than 20,000 submissions were received between February 24 and June 14. Commissioner Virginia Bell said she would not seek an extension to the reporting deadline, and the commission must deliver its final report by December 14, 2026.

The August 17 statements are evidence for the commission to assess, not findings adopted by it. APPI News could not find a published transcript for that session at the time of writing, although the commission had published the witness list and exhibit register. Hearings scheduled through August 28 may add evidence or qualify the first day's testimony.

Frequently asked questions

Did the polling show that social media caused weaker democratic support?
No. It found an association between trust in social media and lower support for democracy. The researchers said their data could not establish which way the relationship ran.

Does lower satisfaction mean Australians are rejecting democracy?
No. The June survey recorded lower satisfaction with how democracy was working while principled support for democracy increased. The researchers measure those attitudes separately.

Has the royal commission reached a conclusion?
No. The final hearing block was still underway when this report was written, and the commission's final report is due by December 14, 2026.