Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has publicly defended the Albanese government's decision not to establish a federal royal commission into the Bondi Junction stabbing attack, opting instead for a swift review led by a former security chief.
Defence of the Security-First Approach
Burke's comments came in response to calls from former Home Affairs Department secretary Mike Pezzullo for a rapid federal royal commission into the tragic incident. Pezzullo had argued such an inquiry could be conducted at speed.
However, Burke firmly rejected this suggestion, stating his belief that royal commissions are inherently slow. "I’m not sure if there’s been a royal commission in history that has gone at the pace he’s just described," Burke said. "The experience that we’ve had with every royal commission is they take years, they always ask for extensions of time."
He argued that the government's chosen path—a review led by former ASIO director-general Dennis Richardson—was the fastest and most expert-led option. "The best way to act with absolute urgency is not to have something chaired by a retired judge, but to have something chaired by a national security expert," Burke asserted, adding that Richardson commands "the complete respect across the national security community in Australia."
Accelerating Firearms Control
Alongside defending the inquiry's structure, Burke detailed the government's accelerated plans for gun law reform. He confirmed that the Albanese government is moving quickly to establish the National Firearms Register, a commitment first made in 2023.
In a significant step forward, Burke revealed that drafting instructions for some gun laws have been issued to states and territories as of today. This action signals the start of the legislative process required to create the unified national register, aimed at improving tracking and control of firearms across Australia.
Implications and Next Steps
The government's dual announcement underscores a strategy focused on expedited, expert-driven national security responses rather than traditional judicial inquiries. By prioritising Richardson's review, officials hope to receive actionable recommendations much sooner than a royal commission would typically deliver.
The simultaneous push on the National Firearms Register indicates a broader policy response to the attack, seeking to address potential gaps in firearm management through coordinated, nationwide legislation. The coming weeks will reveal how states and territories respond to the Commonwealth's drafting instructions.
