Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg slams Albanese’s spy probe call, says PM fears Commonwealth royal commission
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has criticized Anthony Albanese’s decision to review Australian intelligence powers rather than commission a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism.
“Prime Minister, your announcement today of an internal ministerial review of law enforcement and intelligence agencies is completely inadequate,” Mr Frydenberg said on Sunday.
“Using colloquial Australian language is nonsense. It is weak, it is wrong, it is an abrogation of your first and fundamental duty to protect all Australian citizens after the deadliest terrorist attack on Australian soil at Bondi Beach.”
He said the Government’s review had failed to get to the bottom of the issue of radicalization in Australia and the Prime Minister had allowed it to “explode”.
“Prime Minister, what do you fear the Commonwealth Royal Commission will reveal?”
Mr Frydenberg was critical of the Prime Minister in his speech on Thursday, saying it was time for him to accept personal responsibility for the deaths of 15 Bondi terror attack victims.
In his statement on Sunday, Mr Frydenberg said the Commonwealth should set up a royal commission.
“The Commonwealth must take the lead with the most comprehensive and robust royal commission possible,” he said.
“You supported royal commissions into banks, veterans, aged care and the welfare system.
“Now 15 innocent souls, including 10-year-old Matilda, have been murdered by radical Islamists and all you are prepared to do is an internal departmental review? This is not credible and is the latest failure of the Federal leadership.”
“It is not good enough to hand over responsibility to NSW, where the Prime Minister has already indicated he will set up a royal commission.
“Why is the royal commission good enough for NSW but not good enough for the Federal Government?”
Mr Frydenberg said the establishment of an Australia-wide commission was vital because anti-Semitism and terrorist threats were a national issue.
“No one can think that the extremist threat is limited to NSW,” he said.
“These are Federal crimes, Federal responsibilities, and Federal failures.
“The threat is national. You yourself have said that this terrorist attack was inspired by the Islamic State, you cannot conclude that this is an issue that should be dealt with by a state-based royal commission.
“Anti-Semitic intimidation, harassment, and violence have become rampant in our country and must not be allowed to continue another day.
“The tsunami of hate is not just an attack on Australian Jews, it is a threat to all Australians.
“Prime Minister, enough is enough!”
