Royal commission would delay Bondi response, Albanese says
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More news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned a royal commission into the Bondi attack would delay outcomes “by a number of years”, as he released new details about his probe into the nation’s intelligence agencies.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Albanese said his “heart goes out” to the families of victims now calling for a royal commission, but warned that option would hamper governments’ ability to respond swiftly to the attack.
“The full suite of issues that have asked to be examined would delay, by a number of years, any outcome,” he said.
“What we need to do is to look at issues immediately ... We need to respond with unity and urgency, rather than division and delay."
Albanese revealed that the intelligence review, to be conducted by former senior bureaucrat Dennis Richardson, will assess information sharing between intelligence agencies, what was known about the alleged attackers before December 14, and whether more could have been done to prevent the attack.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke argued that the national security aspect of the inquiry “doesn't lend itself to public inquiry by definition”.
Burke also warned that a royal commission would enable members of the public to make submissions, potentially giving hate preachers a platform to air their extremism.
“No one can tell me that that is in the interests of unity,” he said.
Families of the victims want a royal commission to examine a rise in antisemitism across Australia since Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel.
What they said: “These are people who are grieving and my heart goes out to them. My job, as prime minister, is to look at how we build unity, how we build social cohesion, how we do what the nation needs at what is a very difficult time,” Albanese said.
Work underway on NSW Bondi royal commission, but Chris Minns quiet on federal calls
The news: NSW Premier Chris Minns has refused to be drawn on calls for a Commonwealth royal commission into the Bondi terror attack, but expects a state-based probe to compel evidence from federal agencies.
The context: Speaking near the scene of the attack on Monday, Minns was repeatedly pressed on growing calls for a royal commission into events leading up to 14 December, when two IS-inspired shooters allegedly carried out the deadliest terror attack on Australian soil.
Minns confirmed work was already underway to establish the terms of reference for his state-level royal commission, and said he would be “happy to have it up and running as soon as possible”.
But he is yet to lay out a timeframe, saying his government was consulting with the Jewish community on multiple factors — including an appropriate commissioner.
“I don’t want to lay down terms of reference without having proper, appropriate consultation with the community, particularly the [Jewish] community that’s been affected by it,” he said.
But Minns refused to be drawn on calls for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to launch his own Commonwealth royal commission, saying he could “not speak for another level of government”.
Albanese has repetaedly ruled out the move, instead launching a review of the intelligence agencies to be run out of his department.
There are questions about the NSW probe’s ability to get access to federal intelligence agencies tasked with combatting terrorism, though Minns said he had been advised that a NSW royal commission could “get access to other jurisdictions and other heads of agencies”.
“I would expect that to happen,” he said.
In a letter to the prime minister this week, families of the victims urged Albanese to change course and accused his government of doing “not nearly enough” in the wake of the attack, which was the deadliest terror event on Australian soil.
The Coalition has also called for a Commonwealth royal commission, describing the attack as the “catastrophic consequence of a national failure to confront rising antisemitism, violent extremism and repeated warnings from our security agencies”.
What they said: “I can’t speak for the families, and I can’t speak for another level of government,” Minns said.
The sources: Anthony Albanese press conference, Chris Minns press conference
