Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement of a royal commission into antisemitism has been mostly welcomed by victims and community groups who spent the past week lobbying for a national inquiry.
For some, like Gabriel Tretiak, there is a relief that the inquiry has been announced, but a sense of questions left unanswered remains.
Gabriel is the 17-year-old grandson of Randwick woman Tania Tretiak, who was one of 15 people killed in the terror attack at Bondi Beach last month.
“I think it should have been done earlier,” he said of the inquiry’s announcement.
Tania Tretiak, who lost her life when two gunmen stormed Bondi Beach and killed 15 people in December. (Supplied)
“We need answers.
“I feel like it has taken this long because the government is trying to hide something.”
Ms Tretiak, 68, who immigrated to Australia from Russia in 1992, loved travelling and spending time with her family, Gabriel said.
He said when he and his parents rushed to Bondi Beach that night, police detectives told his family the officers on duty at the Chanukah event “had just finished their training” two months earlier.
“I want to know… why the people on duty at the event took so long to take down the shooters,” he said.
“I would like to know why the police decided to put rookie police on the scene, instead of highly trained shooters who knew how to use a gun.”
Jewish community welcomes inquiry
The peak national body for the Jewish community has also expressed relief at the decision to hold a federal inquiry.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said the Jewish community felt “listened to” after weeks of requesting a royal commission be held.
Mr Aghion said he was pleased with the terms of reference, and said the inquiry must look at the “disturbing escalation” of antisemitism over the past two years.
President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Daniel Aghion. (ABC News)
“Jews now are five times more likely to be a victim of antisemitism than prior to the 7th of October 2023, the Hamas attack in Israel,” he said.
“And as a consequence, we are victims, and indeed we are victims of increasing aggression and violence.”
Mr Aghion said while there had been “various views expressed” about the appointment of former High Court justice Virginia Bell to lead the inquiry, he said she had “excellent credentials”.
“The community now needs to get behind the prime minister’s decision, and we’ve all got to get on with the job of investigating this problem that, as others have said, has gotten into the marrow of Australian society,” he said.
Call for unity
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Michele Goldman said only a federal inquiry would have the power to deliver the answers the community needed.
Michele Goldman said the royal commission was a powerful tool to examine antisemitism in Australia. (ABC News: Patrick Thomas)
“We need the power and independence of a royal commission to understand the failures that led to Bondi, the emergence of a climate that has allowed antisemitism to take root and fester, and the spread of ideological and religious extremism,” she said.
“[There are] so many Australians whose sense of safety has been shattered. It is critical that Australia comes together now to understand how we can move forward.
“What will be important is that the commissioner [Virginia Bell] undertakes the royal commission examination with the rigour that is needed to maintain the confidence of all stakeholders, so we can get to the bottom of the failures that occurred and create a road map to help us move forward.”
‘Deeply frustrating’
David Baxby, the former Virgin Australia executive behind fundraising efforts and a petition for a royal commission, said he was frustrated at having to lobby the government.
“It’s been deeply frustrating, and it’s been quite a lot of work to get to where we’ve got to,” he said.
David Baxby says it was frustrating having to petition the prime minister for a royal commission this week. (ABC News)
“And now we’ve been, quite frankly, overwhelmed by the level of community support … we’ve raised $250,000 in the space of about 48 hours from 3,000 community members.
“But frankly, that should never be necessary.”
His comments come after 10 business lobby groups also flagged their support for the prime minister’s decision.
Anthony Albanese announced the royal commission after weeks of pressure from victims, sport stars and Jewish community groups. (ABC News)
In a joint statement released late Thursday afternoon, the groups said they welcomed the establishment of the royal commission.
“The establishment of a federal royal commission, led by former High Court justice, the Honourable Virginia Bell, recognises the importance of a coordinated, whole-of-nation response,” the groups said.
Announcing a state-based royal commission would no longer proceed, NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government’s focus would continue to be on supporting the families of the victims.
“We will continue to work closely with the Jewish community on matters arising from the Bondi terrorist attack and remain open to further inquiries that focus on NSW Government responses,” he said in a statement.
“Our priority remains unchanged: supporting victims and their families, keeping the community safe, and ensuring everything possible is done to prevent an attack like this from ever happening again.”