Commissioner Bell Holds Exclusive Meeting With Bondi Survivors

Virginia Bell, lead commissioner into the Bondi Beach terror attack, has spoken with survivors, witnesses, and relatives of the December 14 attack at an exclusive invite-only meeting.

The former High Court judge visited the scene of the Bondi shootings on Thursday morning, before holding a two hour meeting with around 80 people in attendance.

Bell used the meeting to personally walk survivors through her decision not hear evidence from eyewitnesses to the attack, after explaining at the commission’s opening hearing on Tuesday the need for the commission to “do its work without risking any prejudice” to the criminal proceedings relating to alleged gunman Naveed Akram, and that some survivors may also be witnesses in the trial.

“The trial of that individual will be the occasion to lead evidence of the attack,” she told the hearing earlier this week.

Bell has said they’ve experienced delays in receiving information from relevant agencies, including ASIO, as the organisations quickly seek legal advice on how best to interact with the investigation.

Bell also told the meeting that the royal commission would investigate why there were only two police officers on site at the Chanukah by the Sea event, and the time it took for more officers to arrive when shooting started.

Tight deadline leaves survivors and Jewish community concerned

Sources at the meeting told the Sydney Morning Herald that those in attendance were concerned the royal commission could be rushed, with the government setting a December 14 deadline for the investigation.

“I regard the delivery of my report on or before the first anniversary as a matter of critical importance,” Bell said on Tuesday. “This imposes a tight time-frame, and it’s going to impose limitations on how the commission approaches its terms of reference.”

An interim report is due on April 30, with no more public hearings expected until the end of March at the earliest.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the government will establish immunity from secrecy provisions for those providing evidence to the royal commission.

“The Albanese government will introduce a new framework to ensure those providing intelligence or other sensitive operational information to royal commissions can do so with legal immunity,” she said.

“The royal commission is an important step for Australians to come together and learn following the heinous antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi.”