Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not made any official submissions to the Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Royal Commission, with no evidence prepared by his office in relation to the inquiry, according to a recent response to a freedom of information request. Furthermore, it is understood that neither Mr Albanese nor Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke were called to provide testimony during the commission’s closed hearings.

The freedom of information request sought any official documents, submissions, or communications between the Prime Minister’s Office and the commission, as well as any material prepared in anticipation of a potential call for the Prime Minister to give evidence. In response, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that reasonable efforts were made to locate relevant documents but none were found.

The government has stated that it respects the independence of the commission and that decisions regarding witnesses, hearings, and evidence are exclusively the commission’s responsibility. A spokesperson for the commission declined to comment on its engagement with specific individuals or parties, including whether they had provided evidence or been called as witnesses.

The lack of engagement by Mr Albanese with the commission has drawn criticism from some quarters. Julian Leeser, a senior Jewish member of the Coalition, suggested the absence of any prepared material indicated that the Prime Minister was confident he would not be called to give evidence. He also contrasted Mr Albanese’s approach to that of former Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and John Howard, who had testified before similar royal commissions, describing Mr Albanese as unwilling to participate fully.

Mr Albanese had previously pledged not to interfere with the commission’s work but also resisted calls to give evidence voluntarily. He declined to support a significant extension to the commission’s deadline, despite concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the inquiry’s rapid timeframe.

The Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Royal Commission was established to investigate issues related to antisemitism and social cohesion within Australia. The inquiry’s proceedings and decisions remain under the commission’s purview, with the government maintaining a stance of non-interference.