A 155-page interim report into the Bondi massacre, released on Thursday, has revealed significant gaps in intelligence and counter-terrorism funding, while leaving many questions unanswered. The report, by the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion, notes that over a third of its recommendations are confidential, though the government plans to implement all of them.
The attack on 14 December killed 15 people. Alleged terrorists Naveed and Sajid Akram are said to have been linked to Islamic extremism since 2019. They obtained firearms, travelled to a region in the southern Philippines known for extremism, and undertook combat training in regional New South Wales, filming videos pledging allegiance to Islamic State.
Commissioner Virginia Bell found that no agency reported being prevented from acting by the legal framework, but a failure to identify or act on intelligence could not be discounted. National intelligence funding for counter-terrorism “significantly declined” from 2020 to 2025, though the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police were not affected.
The report also noted that NSW Police did not complete a “comprehensive written risk assessment” for the targeted Chanukah festival, despite warnings from the Jewish community security group. The progress towards a national firearms registry was described as “unduly leisurely”.
Four confidential recommendations relate to travel alert systems and information sharing. The report highlighted the heroism of 85 volunteer life-savers who used 1,000 gauze swabs, 300 bandages, and other medical supplies. Public hearings on antisemitism begin Monday.
