Prominent Australian business figures and the nation's most senior Catholic bishops have united in a powerful call for a Commonwealth royal commission. This demand follows the tragic Bondi Beach terrorist attack on December 14 and seeks to investigate the roots of antisemitism and radicalism in the country.
A Powerful Coalition of Signatories
The push for a national inquiry gained significant momentum with the publication of an open letter, signed by at least 120 leaders. The signatories include former Reserve Bank of Australia governors Philip Lowe and Glenn Stevens, billionaire James Packer, and former Telstra chief executive David Thodey. They were joined by a broad coalition of sporting figures, politicians, and university chancellors.
The letter, published across multiple media outlets, argues that the current situation constitutes a national crisis requiring a response beyond politics. "This is a national crisis, which requires a national response. This goes beyond politics, it’s about the future of our country," the letter stated. The business leaders expressed a need for "clear answers" on how the Bondi massacre could happen and called for practical solutions to restore social cohesion.
Government Resistance and Separate Reviews
Despite this mounting pressure, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has so far resisted calls for a full royal commission from victims' families, Jewish groups, and legal experts. Instead, the Labor government has established a review led by former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson. This review will focus specifically on the responses of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
The federal government has confirmed that the New South Wales government will hold its own state-based royal commission, which will receive cooperation from federal agencies. However, the coalition of business leaders and bishops insists this is insufficient, advocating for a broader, nationally-focused investigation.
Religious Leaders Echo the Call for a Deeper Inquiry
In a separate but aligned move, Australia's most senior Catholic leaders added their voices to the demand on Friday. Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, acknowledged the Richardson review as an important step. However, he stressed the urgent need to confront the deeper societal roots of antisemitism.
"It is only by shining a light into the dark corners of our society ... that we can hope to unmask the anti-Semitism which might otherwise go unseen, unacknowledged and unaddressed," Archbishop Costelloe said. The bishops argue that a wider, properly resourced national inquiry is essential to probe the core issues fuelling hatred.
Context of Rising Tensions
The open letter from business leaders explicitly links the call for action to the surge in community tension following the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. The signatories seek an end to what they describe as "the unprecedented harassment, intimidation and violence" directed at Australian Jews since that date. This period has seen a significant rise in reported antisemitic incidents, creating a climate of fear within the community.
As the debate continues, the prime minister remains unswayed, citing advice from security experts like Dennis Richardson. However, with such a formidable alliance of corporate and religious leaders now demanding action, the pressure for a comprehensive royal commission into antisemitism and radicalism is intensifying.
