The Albanese government has rejected calls from families of the Bondi beach terror attack victims for a federal royal commission, arguing it would provide a platform for the worst voices of antisemitism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that a royal commission would be too slow and not the appropriate vehicle to investigate the attack on a Hanukah festival that killed 15 people, instead backing a shorter review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke claimed a royal commission would “provide a public platform for some of the worst statements and worst voices”, allowing a repetition of antisemitic developments. However, Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, described a federal royal commission as “the least that can be done”, criticising the government’s approach as an “ineffective half measure”.
Albanese announced that former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson’s review would investigate the powers, efficiency, systems, and information sharing by federal law enforcement agencies, with a focus on the Australian Federal Police and ASIO. The review, due to report by April, will examine how alleged offenders were assessed, what was known before the attack, barriers to better action, and future measures, including warrant and data access powers.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley called for a national royal commission to investigate antisemitism across Australia, accusing the prime minister of insulting victims and their families by shielding the nation from the truth. The Coalition has proposed its own wide-ranging terms of reference, which Albanese criticised as too broad and potentially requiring a years-long inquiry.
