Cabinet documents detailing funding for counterterrorism agencies in the lead-up to the Bondi massacre will be made available to the royal commission, despite the federal government's attempt to keep them confidential. The government had filed a public interest immunity claim to prevent the Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion from accessing documents concerning the funding levels of ASIO prior to the December terror attack.
Government's Secrecy Bid Overruled
The claim was lodged following advice from the Prime Minister's Department to safeguard the cabinet process. However, in a decisive ruling, royal commissioner Virginia Bell determined that the documents are essential for her inquiry. She clarified that while the documents will not be released to the public, they will form a critical component of the commission's investigative work.
Commissioner's Rationale
Commissioner Bell stated: "In the context of the anti-Semitic Bondi terrorist attack on December 14, 2025, the question of whether intelligence and law enforcement agencies performed to maximum effectiveness requires consideration of the priority given to, and the resourcing of, counter-terrorism by each agency." She added that a comparison of counter-terrorism priority and resourcing before and after August 2024 is necessary to form a judgment.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland defended the government's actions, noting that the immunity claim was standard procedure. "The government is aware the royal commission has now published two rulings made by Commissioner Bell on cabinet public interest immunity claims," she said in a statement. "The rulings confirm the Commonwealth is fully co-operating with the commission to provide the documents it needs to effectively undertake its inquiry and is raising public interest immunity claims for determination by the commissioner as is appropriate."
Background of the Inquiry
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for the inquiry into anti-Semitism and social cohesion in January following political pressure, after initially rejecting such calls. The royal commission has been examining what police and intelligence agencies knew in the lead-up to the attack. However, a significant portion of the evidence has been presented behind closed doors.
