Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is poised to reverse his government's position and announce a sweeping federal royal commission into the Bondi beach terror attack and the broader issue of antisemitism in the country.
Government Bows to Mounting Pressure
An official announcement is anticipated as early as 4:30pm on Thursday in Canberra, according to several sources familiar with discussions between the government and Jewish community groups. This marks a significant shift for the Prime Minister, who had for weeks resisted calls for a wide-ranging Commonwealth inquiry.
The decision follows a powerful and sustained campaign from a broad coalition, including the families of the Bondi victims, Jewish community organisations, business leaders, sporting identities, security experts, and even members of Albanese's own Labor caucus. The federal Coalition opposition has also strongly backed the calls for an inquiry.
Scope and Leadership of the Inquiry
The commission is expected to investigate not only the horrific attack itself but also the disturbing rise of antisemitism in Australia. The shooting at a Hanukah event in Bondi, allegedly carried out by a father and son inspired by ISIS, resulted in the deaths of 15 people.
The esteemed former High Court justice Virginia Bell is tipped to lead the royal commission. Justice Bell brings a formidable reputation, having served on the High Court from 2009 to 2021 and previously on NSW's Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. She was also appointed by the Albanese government in 2022 to investigate former PM Scott Morrison's secret ministerial appointments.
From Reluctance to Reversal
Until recently, the Prime Minister and his cabinet had firmly rebuffed demands for a royal commission. They argued such inquiries were too lengthy, could provide a platform for hate speech, and were ill-suited for examining issues where people held divergent views.
Instead, the government initiated a narrower review led by former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson, focusing on the national intelligence and law enforcement community. This move was dismissed as "bullshit" by former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, a leading advocate for a full royal commission.
The turning point came with an emotional open letter from the families of most Bondi victims, pleading for a royal commission into the attack and antisemitism. This was compounded by growing questions about intelligence and law enforcement, given that one of the alleged shooters, Naveed Akram, had been investigated by ASIO in October 2019 for alleged links to an Islamic State cell. His father was later granted a gun licence.
Faced with this overwhelming pressure, Albanese's earlier stance—that a state-level inquiry in New South Wales was sufficient and that federal authorities would cooperate—has been set aside. The government will now establish a comprehensive federal probe to seek answers and recommend changes.
