Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is refusing to call a Commonwealth royal commission into the Bondi terrorist attack. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Anthony Albanese is under increased pressure to call a royal commission into antisemitism and the circumstances that led to the Bondi Beach terrorist shootings.
But the Prime Minister is so far remaining steadfast in his opposition to staging a federal inquiry, saying his government will instead fully cooperate with the NSW Government’s royal commission.
Mr Albanese has also commissioned a federal review of the nation’s security and policing agencies.
Federal Parliament is also likely to return a week earlier than the scheduled first week of February to deal with hate law and gun control reforms in the wake of the tragedy.
A group of former Labor Party MPs and high-profile members of the Labor Israel Action Committee (LIAC) has written an open letter calling on the PM to hold a federal royal commission.
“The government must call a royal commission into the causes of the Bondi Beach massacre, the broader ecosystem of terror and hate and the capacity of the agencies to monitor terrorist threats,” their letter says.
“We commend NSW Premier Chris Minns for calling a NSW royal commission but such a commission cannot compel institutions and individuals beyond its jurisdiction to give evidence or provide Commonwealth officers with the necessary legal protection to speak frankly.
“Only a Commonwealth royal commission can unpack the dynamics of Jew hatred including aspects such as the social media threat, how hate and incitement is weaponised in Australia and how we can come together across the nation to defeat it.”
The signatories include former minister Mike Kelly, former federal Labor MPs Bernie Ripoll and Michael Danby, former NSW state Labor MPs Walt Secord, Michael Costa and Eric Roozendaal, as well as former Labor senator and Olympian Nova Peris, who is a patron of LIAC.
Ms Peris was also among the 60-plus signatories to a previous letter from high-profile athletes calling on the Prime Minister to hold a federal royal commission into the Bondi attack.
Business groups, former High Court chief justice Robert French and the Jewish community have also called for a federal commission.
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley continues to turn up the heat, demanding a Commonwealth royal commission as the only satisfactory course of action.
She said returning to Parliament before the 3 February scheduled date was nothing compared with what should be done.
“I just want to make it clear that if we do come back early, it’s actually not early,” Ms Ley told the Today show on Tuesday (6 January).
“We should have come back to Parliament in the days before Christmas to deal with this terror event, this worst-ever terrorist event on Australian soil.
“And the Prime Minister does need to yield to the calls … He called for unity. He now has unity across this country.
“Every day, more and more decent Australians are stepping up. We’ve had sporting legends, business leaders, former governors-general, defence and intelligence chiefs, and many, many millions of ordinary Australians.
“And the question is … what is the Prime Minister hiding? What is going on? And why is he not listening to so many Australians?
“So, yes, he does need to call this Commonwealth royal commission, because it’s the only way we can get the answers in this country that people are calling out for, into the actual event itself, but also into the scourge of antisemitism in every corner of Australia.”
Mr Albanese insists he wants answers sooner than a royal commission would be able to deliver them, which is why his review of security agencies, to be led by former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson, will report in April.
He said the Federal Government was taking strong action against hate speech and antisemetic crimes.
“What we are prioritising is the immediate needs of the Richardson review …,” he said on Tuesday.
“I want to see an Australia that is united. I want to see an Australia where someone, because of their faith, is not targeted but is able to practise their faith and with pride …
“I continue to be engaged with leaders in the Jewish community and I am talking and meeting on a daily basis with people to make sure we do everything that is possible.
“As I have said, we need to promote unity at this time and that is my focus.”
