Federal budget 2026: Labor hint on counter-terror funding after Bondi attack revelations
More funding to root out and stop would-be terrorists could be in next week’s federal budget after the investigation into last year’s Bondi terror attack revealed security agencies had “significantly” cut their counter-terrorism budgets since 2020.
The interim report of the Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion found that funding for National Intelligence Community (NIC) agencies increased from $10.9 billion in 2020-21 to $14.3 billion in 2024-25, representing a 31 per cent increase overall.
However, when reviewing “classified material”, royal commissioner Virginia Bell observed that “despite this overall increase, the proportion of funding allocated to counter-terrorism decreased significantly across the NIC from 2020 to 2025.”
It also noted comments from ASIO chief Mike Burgess that his agency was focusing more on preventing foreign espionage.
Deputy Finance Daniel Mulino on Sunday praised the “really high-quality and comprehensive interim report” and reiterated the Albanian government’s promise to implement all recommendations applied to the state.
Mr Mulino told Sky’s Sunday Agenda: “There will be investigations into particular programs and initiatives, and rightly so.”
“But my understanding is that the funding of these organizations has increased.
“I also think it is important to note that the Royal Commission’s interim report found that there were no material gaps in the regulatory or statutory provisions.”
Asked whether there would be more money for counterterrorism efforts in the budget, he declined to “get into a specific program again” but said “it’s very important that the government reacts so quickly and accepts all the recommendations.”
“I will leave the details of the specific implementation of these recommendations to portfolio ministers and the Prime Minister,” Mr. Mulino said.
Five of the 14 recommendations in the interim report were redacted for national security reasons, making it difficult to establish whether the opposition’s claims that Labor was responsible for the funding change are true.
NewsWire understands that agencies often decide where to prioritize funding and may request additional funding to meet their needs.
But the government of the day can direct institutions on where to prioritize resources.
Australia has likely been under threat from terrorism since August 2024.
But the report shows that the National Security Committee, the top ministerial decision-making body, has not pressed for a stronger focus on counterterrorism.
After Naveed Akram and his father Sajid allegedly opened fire at the Chanukah Seaside event on December 14 last year, 15 innocent people died and dozens were injured.
Akram has yet to plead no contest to 59 charges, including 40 attempted murder. His father was shot and killed by the police.
The first public hearings of the royal commission will begin in Sydney on Monday.
