PM must ‘yield’ as ex-Labor MPs join Bondi inquiry call
Anthony Albanese is being asked to “bow” to growing calls for a royal commission into antisemitism in the wake of the Bondi massacre, as a group of former Labor politicians join the push.
More than 20 people associated with the party wrote an open letter to the prime minister, saying only a Commonwealth inquiry could reveal “the wider ecosystem of terror and hatred and the capacity of institutions to monitor terrorist threats”.
Australian-born Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, who was killed at the scene, opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Bondi on December 14.
15 people died and more than 40 people were injured in the terrorist attack.
Signatories include members of the Labor Israel Action Committee as well as Olympic champion Nova Peris, a Labor Party senator.
“The health of our democracy and our national security are at risk,” the letter says.
“Jewish Australians were the main targets of this attack, but all Australians are made less safe by extremism that turns into deadly acts.”
The proposal piles more pressure on Mr Albanese, who has repeatedly rejected calls for a federal royal commission, arguing for an urgent response rather than a lengthy process.
The federal government is expected to recall parliament before Australia Day to strengthen hate speech laws and introduce measures to combat hate.
The date for Parliament’s early return has been the subject of much debate in the corridors of Canberra but has yet to be confirmed as of Tuesday morning.
Federal MPs and senators are currently scheduled to return to Parliament House on February 3.
While Mr Albanese delayed calls for a royal commission, he gave the green light to an independent investigation into Australia’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies, which is due to be completed by the end of April.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said parliament must return before Christmas to respond to the terror attack.
“The Prime Minister needs to bow to the calls now,” he told Nine’s Today program on Tuesday.
“He called for unity before. There is unity across this country now. More decent Australians are coming forward every day.”
Many Jewish leaders, as well as a business community and a group of sports stars, have also written open letters calling for a royal commission.
Health Minister Mark Butler said he respected those calls as “sincere and heartfelt” but noted that a NSW state royal commission was planned to address many of these issues.
“These calls are something that we respect and of course we listen to, but right now our work is on urgent and pressing issues,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
“We have a lot of urgent and immediate work that has been focusing our energies for the last few weeks.”
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