James Allsop emerges as frontrunner amid Virginia Bell concerns

“It could be said that this contradicts him. Especially if he is going to investigate the effects of his own decisions determining the protest law in Australia,” a prominent member of the Jewish community told this imprint, emphasizing that Bell is a solid and respected judge, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“[But] “Given his role in making this legislation, can he be seen to have objectively investigated the NSW protests and the University protests?”

He drew attention to Brian Martin’s resignation Don Dale royal commission Within a week of his appointment, after admitting he “will not have the full confidence of some sections” of the Aboriginal community.

Indigenous leaders have previously expressed concern that Martin, as a former Chief Justice of the Northern Territory Supreme Court, would not be able to exercise independence because he was “at the very top” of the system that incarcerated Aboriginal youth.

Allsop has been a strong advocate for a comprehensive investigation into antisemitism and the circumstances leading to the Bondi massacre.

Allsop wrote in a Jan. 2 opinion piece that failure to launch a robust investigation “will jeopardize the future of the nation.” Australian Financial Review.

“This country, if it is to continue to be what we think it is, must ask itself and answer honestly some very difficult questions about itself (our country) and ourselves, and about this lightly sleeping evil that is stirring and beginning to emerge,” he wrote.

Former NSW Supreme Court chief justice James Spigelman said of Bell: “He was a very good judge.”

He said he was hopeful Albanese would reverse his previous position to set up a royal commission but declined to comment further.

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In a speech paying tribute to Bell, who left the NSW Supreme Court ahead of his Supreme Court appointment in 2008, Spigelman said: “If there was one word I would use to describe your approach, it would be ‘balanced’. And your decisions reflect a consummate ability to incisively get to the point of the matter. And you do that all the time.”

Ben Saul, professor of international law at the University of Sydney, accused Frydenberg of questioning “the abilities of one of Australia’s most distinguished, respected, fair and impartial legal figures”.

“It’s time to stop politicizing the Bondi investigation,” Saul said in a post on X.

A well-connected source in the Jewish community, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said: “Virginia Bell has impeccable credentials, but people say we don’t know what’s in her heart.”

Prominent barrister Greg Barns, spokesman for the Australian Lawyers’ Alliance, said the crown commissioner should be seen as independent.

“If any interest group is allowed to veto or approve the election, that would compromise independence,” he said.

“Furthermore, it sets a dangerous precedent. Will other groups be allowed to have the right to approve?”

Chairman of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, said: “Agreeing on who should be chosen as royal commissioner should be a minimum requirement. This royal commission, which will examine what led to the worst terrorist attack and crisis of antisemitism in our nation’s history, must have the confidence of the Jewish community.”

Former Labor MP Michael Danby, who is Jewish, said he had concerns about Bell being chosen to lead the royal commission.

“I’m not sure he’s the best person,” he said. “This involves ideology, foreign relations and national security. I don’t want to think the Prime Minister is pushing it because he is a safe bet for Labor. I’m not saying he is biased, but it is important that he is perceived as a suitable figure for this inquiry.”

Referring to the much-loved British political satire, he added: “toe Minister In this case, the tricks will not work in the end.”

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