A royal commission in Australia is an independent, high‑level public inquiry set up to investigate issues of major public importance and to recommend changes to laws, policies or systems.

What is a royal commission?

  • A royal commission is a public inquiry with the highest status of investigation in Australia, used only in rare and exceptional circumstances.
  • It is formally established by the Governor‑General (or a state Governor) on the advice of government ministers, and its scope is defined in written “terms of reference”.

How are they set up?

  • At the federal level, royal commissions are created under the Royal Commissions Act 1902 (Cth), which gives them their legal powers.
  • The government decides the topic, terms of reference, funding and who will serve as commissioners, but commissioners are chosen for their independence and expertise and are not serving politicians.

What powers do they have?

  • Royal commissions can compel witnesses to give evidence under oath and can require individuals or organisations to produce documents.
  • They cannot themselves deliver criminal verdicts, but they can refer possible criminal matters to the police or other authorities for investigation.

What do they do in practice?

  • A commission can investigate why particular events happened, identify who is responsible and make findings and recommendations for reform.
  • They often invite public submissions, hold hearings around the country, and may run for months or years because the issues are complex and the process is detailed and costly.

Why do they matter in Australia?

  • Calling a royal commission signals that an issue—such as institutional abuse, banking misconduct or veteran suicide—is of great public importance and needs an authoritative, independent review.
  • Although governments are not legally forced to implement every recommendation, royal commission reports often drive significant legal and policy changes in Australia.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.