Albanese announces inquiry into Bondi terror attack and social cohesion
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has put an end to more than three weeks of speculation and announced the establishment of a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion in the Commonwealth, following the Bondi terrorist attack on December 14 in which Hanukkah celebrations were targeted and 15 people were killed.
Albanese reversed his previous opposition to the inquiry after weeks of pressure from community groups, leaders and the media. He argued that a national investigation would take too long to produce its findings and would provide a platform for anti-Semitic views that could be expressed in the inquiry.
The antisemitism inquiry announced on Thursday is the first Commonwealth royal commission since the Morrison government launched an inquiry into defense and veteran suicide in 2021.
What are the terms of reference of the royal commission?
The royal commission will focus on antisemitism in Australia, social cohesion and the conditions that led to the worst terror attack in the country’s history.
It will investigate the prevalence of antisemitism in the country (including how it is fueled by religiously and ideologically motivated extremism and radicalization) and make recommendations to help law enforcement and security agencies combat antisemitism and receive training in responding to antisemitic behavior.
The inquiry will also examine the circumstances surrounding the Bondi attack and make other recommendations that could strengthen social cohesion.
The prime minister said the investigation would also take into account the role of social media in spreading religious extremism.
He said the terms of reference instructed the commissioner, former Supreme Court justice Virginia Bell, to conduct the investigation in a way that would not prejudice criminal proceedings against the surviving gunman, Naveed Akram.
Albania and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke opposed the establishment of the royal commission in recent weeks, arguing that it would create a platform for antisemitic views. Albanese said on Thursday that Bell had been instructed to ensure such an incident did not happen.
What does the Commonwealth royal commission mean for the Richardson and NSW investigations?
Albanese launches federal review of intelligence and law enforcement It is led by former ASIO chief executive Dennis Richardson Last month the NSW government announced the establishment of a state royal commission.
The Prime Minister said on Thursday that Richardson would continue his work and that his findings, due in April, would be an interim report to support the Commonwealth royal commission’s investigation.
Following Albanese’s press conference, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state inquiry would no longer proceed but the Commonwealth commission would have full co-operation with the NSW government.
When will the investigation be completed and findings published?
The timeline of the inquiry is a critical question, given that the Prime Minister has insisted for weeks that the royal commission would take too long to deliver urgent answers into the tragic incident in Bondi.
He said on Thursday he wanted the royal commission to conclude before December 14, 2026, a year after the attack.
“This won’t be a very long process,” Albanese said.
Who is the commissioner?
Former Supreme Court justice Virginia Bell, 74, has had a long and respected career in the law, including serving on the nation’s highest court for more than a decade.
Bell assisted the Wood royal commission into NSW police corruption between 1994 and 1997 as an advisor, and in 2022 she led the investigation into former prime minister Scott Morrison’s appointments to multiple ministerial posts, after which he said his actions were “corrosive to trust in government”.
Jewish leaders criticized Bell for his role in protecting political communications rights; This was a legal precedent used in NSW to overturn the state government’s ban on a pro-Palestinian march on the Sydney Harbor Bridge last year.
Why did it take 3.5 weeks for the Prime Minister to launch the investigation?
Albanese has adamantly rejected calls for a royal commission, insisting his government would fully co-operate with the NSW inquiry and warning that a Commonwealth royal commission would provide a national platform for antisemitic views that should be supported in the inquiry.
The government had announced that it would present a package of federal measures that included the largest firearm buyback since 1996, tougher gun laws, and acceptance of special envoy Jillian Segal’s bill. plan to combat antisemitism, new hate crime provisions and would co-operate with the NSW royal commission into the Richardson review.
Albanese maintained these measures were sufficient but reversed his position on Thursday amid the escalation. Pressure from victims’ families, worker fixturesand leading Australians from the sports, business and legal communities.
What did the Jewish community say?
Antisemitism ambassador Jillian Segal welcomed the announcement on Thursday and said Albanese had listened to defenders.
Standing next to the prime minister, the woman said: “I believe the government’s decision to establish a royal commission into antisemitism is correct and important.”
Daniel Aghion, KC, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, said he expected the terms of reference would allow for “honest scrutiny of government policies and key institutions and individuals in key sectors of our society”.
“On behalf of the Australian Jewish community, we welcome the prime minister’s announcement,” he said.
Families of most of the victims The defender of the Bondi attack penned an open letter in December calling for a royal commission, arguing that the government had “not done enough” since the attack.
“We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how anti-Semitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to grow dangerously unchecked, and what changes need to be made to protect all Australians in the future.” read letter.
The Jewish Council of Australia, an organization of Australian Jews who support the Palestinian cause, backed calls for an investigation into the Bondi attack but warned against politicizing the incident.
Executor Sarah Schwartz said any royal commission must “prioritise safety for all the culture wars”.
What did the opposition say?
The coalition published its terms of reference for a potential royal commission in December.
A wide-ranging inquiry has been called for, which will focus on an investigation into antisemitism in Australia, anti-Israel sentiment, extremism, immigration, the conduct of government departments and ministers, law enforcement, intelligence agencies and the media, arts and education sectors may have contributed to the Bondi attack.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said on Thursday Albanese’s backtracking was evidence that his “series of excuses” for not investigating had collapsed.
“Anthony Albanese relented not because he believed the Commonwealth royal commission was the right thing to do, but because he was forced to do so by the Australian people,” he said.
Ley criticized the government’s appointment of one commissioner instead of three, saying that this would be insufficient for such a complex and important issue.
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Brittany Busch is the federal politics correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
Mike Foley is the climate and energy correspondent for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
