The Albanese government inadvertently released sensitive cabinet documents concerning an extremist deradicalisation initiative without the required confidentiality markings, a misstep that led to the materials being shared with expert witnesses before the antisemitism royal commission.

Royal Commissioner Virginia Bell disclosed in an August 10 ruling that Commonwealth lawyers acknowledged their oversight only after the report, prepared by private research firm Verian Group, had been distributed to two academics subpoenaed to appear before the commission. The report, which evaluated the Step Together program—a key Australian countering violent extremism (CVE) service—was initially compiled in November 2023 and provided to the commission by the Department of Home Affairs in June 2026.

Ms Bell partially lifted the cabinet confidentiality surrounding the report, citing its significance to the commission’s investigations into antisemitism and social cohesion. The Verian review included qualitative and quantitative research into public perceptions, behaviors, and barriers regarding early intervention in radicalisation and violent extremism.

The two academics, Professors Grossman and Cherney, incorporated findings from the report into their statements to the commission. On August 5, counsel assisting the inquiry formally notified that these experts would be called to testify. It was only then that Commonwealth solicitors issued a formal notice raising concerns over the report’s confidential status. They argued the document should not have been produced to the commission but subsequently declined to recommend either for or against its public disclosure.

Commissioner Bell’s decision to admit the report into evidence allowed the continued use and reference of the material by counsel and witnesses during the inquiry.

This development follows previous rulings in April where Ms Bell granted herself access to extensive cabinet papers used in an interim report revealing that senior Albanese government officials had discussed reductions in counter-terrorism funding within the intelligence community. In June, she also overruled government requests to withhold parts of a witness statement from ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess concerning the allocation of Commonwealth resources for counter-terrorism, reinforcing the commission’s interest in transparency on these matters.

Government representatives asserted that their attempts to claim public interest immunity for certain documents aimed to maintain procedural convention rather than to impede the commission’s work.

The Step Together program, which expanded nationally in July 2025, remains Australia’s most publicly accessible CVE service. However, evidence presented to the commission highlighted that the program had not undergone a formal review in over six years, with limited understanding of its effectiveness and weak public awareness.

Professor Grossman called for a comprehensive “saturation campaign” to raise awareness and improve accessibility. She emphasized that violent extremists originate from within communities, workplaces, and schools, stressing the importance of public recognition and intervention to address radical harms.

Meanwhile, Professor Cherney’s examination of state and federal CVE initiatives identified Victoria’s program as the only one deemed fit for purpose. Representatives from New South Wales indicated to the commission that a review of their CVE efforts was in its initial stages.