Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has maintained her fierce criticism of the Labor government's handling of the Bondi terror attack, despite successfully pressuring Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a royal commission into the incident.
A Victory Overshadowed by Ongoing Attacks
While the government's U-turn to launch an inquiry represented a significant win for Ley and the Coalition, her response has been marked by continued political assault rather than conciliation. Following the announcement on Thursday, Ley immediately branded the Prime Minister's actions as demonstrating "delay, weakness and resistance".
In a detailed 745-word statement, the Opposition Leader found scant space to welcome the establishment of the royal commission or endorse its terms of reference. Instead, she focused her remarks on attacking Albanese directly, criticising the decision to appoint a single commissioner – the highly respected former High Court judge Virginia Bell – as "inadequate".
Calls for Ministers to Face the Dock
Ley's rhetoric intensified on Friday, with the Liberal leader twice demanding that government ministers should end up "in the dock" to explain their actions during the inquiry. This language, implying criminal proceedings, has drawn concern from those urging national unity.
Her stance stands in contrast to other Coalition figures. Liberal senators Jono Duniam and James Paterson adopted a more constructive tone, expressing hope for the inquiry's success and accepting the proposed terms of reference. Meanwhile, antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal publicly praised Bell as an "eminent jurist" and called for all sides to support the commission's work.
Timing and Transparency Questions Remain
Legitimate questions persist about the government's initial reluctance and the timeline of its decision. Prime Minister Albanese defended the process, citing the need to resolve legal complexities and negotiate with the New South Wales government. He stated the aim was to "bring the nation together in national unity and build social cohesion while we tackle the evil scourge that is antisemitism".
However, scrutiny remains over why senior ministers repeatedly downplayed the need for a federal royal commission in media appearances over a three-week period, only to announce one after sustained pressure.
With the royal commission now established and receiving backing from key Jewish community leaders, the focus shifts to whether political hostilities will subside to allow the inquiry – and separate criminal court proceedings – to proceed without partisan interference. The coming weeks will test whether the quest for accountability can coexist with the national need for cohesion.
