A powerful coalition of former Labor Party politicians and prominent figures, including Olympian and ex-senator Nova Peris, is demanding Prime Minister Anthony Albanese establish a federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack and antisemitism. They argue the nation's democratic health and security are at stake.
Open Letter Calls for Commonwealth-Level Inquiry
In an open letter seen by Guardian Australia, 21 Labor associates, including members of the Labor Israel Action Committee (LIAC), have urged immediate action. The signatories argue that only a commonwealth-led royal commission can properly investigate the causes of the Bondi beach massacre and the broader ecosystem of terror and hate.
Among the notable signatories are former federal MPs Mike Kelly, Bernie Ripoll, Mary Easson, Mike Symon, and Michael Danby. Former NSW upper house members Eric Roozendaal, Walt Secord, and Michael Costa also added their names. Nova Peris, a former federal senator and Olympic athlete who is a patron of LIAC, has been a vocal supporter, having previously backed a similar call with around 60 Australian sports stars.
The letter states: "The government must call a royal commission into the causes of the Bondi beach massacre, the broader ecosystem of terror and hate and the capacity of the agencies to monitor terrorist threats." It commends NSW Premier Chris Minns for initiating a state inquiry but insists it lacks the necessary power.
Why a State Inquiry Isn't Enough
The group contends that a NSW royal commission cannot compel testimony from federal institutions or provide legal protections for commonwealth officers to speak freely. Only a federal inquiry, they say, can fully unpack the dynamics of Jew hatred in Australia, including the role of social media, how incitement is weaponised, and how to develop a national response.
Former MP Mike Kelly has been advocating for this for weeks, telling the ABC in late December that an inquiry "has to be done at the commonwealth level." He emphasised that a state process cannot access classified materials held by federal agencies or compel their officers.
This push has gained significant backing. Eleven families of Jewish Australians killed in the Bondi shooting have joined the federal Coalition opposition in demanding Albanese call a royal commission. They seek answers on whether law enforcement could have prevented the attack that claimed 15 lives.
Government's Stance and Alternative Actions
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has so far resisted these calls. He has stated that federal authorities will cooperate fully with the NSW inquiry but believes a federal royal commission would take too long. Instead, he has announced a review led by former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson into the national intelligence and law enforcement community.
Albanese expressed his profound sympathy for the victims' families but defended his position: "My job as the Australian prime minister is to act in the national interest. It is in the national interest for us to do the Richardson review on national security."
Treasurer Jim Chalmers echoed this, stating that while the calls for a commission "come overwhelmingly from a good place," the government would not shift its stance. He pointed to other urgent measures being taken.
Concurrently, the federal parliament is being recalled early to rush through new laws. These measures aim to crack down on "hate preachers" and fund a national gun buyback scheme in response to the alleged terrorist attack.
The debate highlights a significant divide: between those demanding a comprehensive, transparent federal judicial inquiry into the roots of antisemitic violence, and a government prioritising swift, operational reforms to national security protocols.
