Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signalled a potential change of heart regarding a national inquiry into the alleged Bondi terror shooting, softening his previous firm resistance as calls for a royal commission intensify.
Mounting Pressure for a National Inquiry
The federal government is facing growing demands from a broad coalition to establish a royal commission focused on the 14 December attack at Bondi and the broader issue of antisemitism. This pressure now includes the Law Council of Australia, which on Tuesday added its influential voice to the chorus. The Council joined families of the victims, the business community, sporting figures, and some former Labor MPs in urging the Prime Minister to act.
While speaking to reporters, Albanese, who had previously warned a royal commission could be divisive and slow urgent reforms, adopted a more open tone. He stated his immediate priority remained on swift actions, including a review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies led by former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson. However, he confirmed he was in daily discussions with Jewish community leaders to "examine everything else required" in response to the attack, which left 15 people dead.
A Shift in Government Language
When pressed directly on whether he was reconsidering his opposition to a royal commission, Albanese did not rule the possibility out. "We are engaged with the community, as well as with the NSW government, to make sure that we get done everything that is required," he said. This marks a notable shift in language from the Prime Minister and his senior ministers.
In the past 24 hours, key government figures have tempered their hostility towards the idea. Senior Minister Mark Butler stated the government respected the "sincere and heartfelt" calls, while Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged the appeals were coming "from a good place." Internally, Guardian Australia understands several federal Labor MPs privately support a national inquiry, with one source suggesting internal pressure has been building, creating an expectation Albanese would need to "do something to save face."
Navigating Legal and Political Complexities
The Law Council, while supporting an inquiry, issued a crucial caveat. It warned that "the timing, conduct and terms of reference of any Royal Commission should be structured so as not to interfere with ongoing criminal proceedings" related to the Bondi attack.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, a long-time advocate for a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism, welcomed the prospect of a government backflip. She argued that Albanese had "delayed, deflected and talked past those most affected for too long," and stressed that victims' families must agree to any terms of reference.
The government's stated four-part response includes the Richardson review, forthcoming reforms to hate speech and extremism laws, assisting a separate New South Wales royal commission, and implementing the recent antisemitism review by Jillian Segal. Parliament is expected to be recalled early, potentially next week, to debate the proposed hate speech legislation.
