Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the terms of an independent review of the Bondi Beach terror attack, resisting calls for a royal commission by victim’s families.
The review, led by Dennis Richardson AC, will examine the actions of Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies leading up to the attack that claimed the lives of 15 people, including a 10-year-old child.
Seventeen families of those injured and killed in the attack signed a plea on Monday calling for a royal commission.
Their letter demanded “answers and solutions”, asking why “clear warning signs were ignored”.
The independent review will assess whether multiple agencies — including the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australia Federal Police — operated as effectively as possible prior to the attack.
PM announces intelligence and law enforcement review
Mr Albanese said his “heart breaks” for the families of those affected.
“Just over two weeks ago, antisemitic terrorists tried to tear our country apart, but our country is stronger than these cowards,” he said.
“They went to Bondi Beach to unleash mass murder against our Jewish community. We need to respond with unity and urgency rather than division and delay.”Review to be given ‘full access’ to materials for Bondi inquiry
The review was slated to be completed and published in April.
Mr Albanese and other federal officials had expressed concerns about the length of time a royal commission would take and the potential platforming of antisemitism during the process.
Mr Richardson, the former head of ASIO and of the departments of defence and foreign affairs, has led earlier reviews into the intelligence community and sections of home affairs.
Mr Albanese’s announcement followed another meeting of the National Security Committee in Canberra.
“Mr Richardson will assess whether Commonwealth agencies performed to maximum effectiveness,” he said.
“He will consider what these agencies knew about the alleged offenders before the attack, the information sharing between Commonwealth agencies and between Commonwealth and state agencies.”
The review will also consider what judgements agencies made and if there were additional measures that could have prevented the attack.
“Mr Richardson will [have] full access to all material he considers may be relevant to his inquiry,” Mr Albanese said.
“Departments and agencies will cooperate fully with the review and provide assistance in the form of documents, data, material and meetings.”
He added parliament would resume in 2026 to consider legislation “as soon as possible”.
Royal commission would ‘revive some of the worst examples of antisemitism’
The opposition has criticised the review, which Home Affairs spokesperson Jonathon Duniam has called “a sad turn of events”.
Court documents shed light onto Bondi gunmen’s movements
“Anthony Albanese never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity … we should be having a full Commonwealth royal commission,” he said.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he was meeting daily with both the AFP and ASIO, noting all agencies “look forward” to the review.
“I’ve been deeply concerned in terms of social cohesion,” he said.
“When you think through some of the terms of reference that have been circulated for other forms of inquiry … the necessary outcome would be to re-platform and provide a public platform for some of the worst statements and worst voices.
“[It would] effectively revive some of the worst examples of antisemitism over the last two years.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said an independent review would allow for “urgency”. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
He said an independent review — instead of a royal commission — would allow the government to “deal squarely with the urgency of national security issues”.
“We need to have the sort of inquiry that keeps Australians safe, and that does not provide a platform for the worst voices,” he said.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley called Mr Albanese and Mr Burke “the last two people who do not support a royal commission”.
Families of Bondi victims call for federal royal commission
“The Prime Minister was elected in May 2022 and each and every day he has had the power to throw the full weight of his government at the challenge of eradicating anti-Semitism,” she said.
“He still has that power today and he is refusing to use it.
“The Jewish community wants it and Australians want it and I suspect millions of ordinary Australians want it as well.
“Families of victims feel shut out, unheard and disrespected. Members of the community believe that this attack was not inevitable but preventable.”
Alex Ryvchin, executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said a royal commission was “the least that could be done” for justice.
Alex Ryvchin, from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. (ABC News)
“[The government] drags their feet. They don’t listen to the experts and to the community,” he told the ABC.
“And then what they propose is an ineffective half measure and we’re expected to be assured that the government knows best how to keep the community safe when we have just seen that they clearly don’t.
“We deserve answers. Only a royal commission has the coercive powers to get to the bottom of how this was allowed to happen and what needs to change in this country to prevent the next massacre.”