NSW Drops Bondi Inquiry After Albanese Announces Federal Antisemitism Royal Commission

The NSW government will not proceed with its plan to establish a state-based royal commission into the Bondi Beach terrorist attack following the announcement of a Commonwealth investigation.

After weeks of pressure, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the establishment of a federal royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion on Thursday night, asking former High Court justice Virginia Bell to lead.

“We have listened,” Albanese said. “We want to give the opportunity for people to come forward and to do so in a way that promotes social cohesion by rolling in the Richardson review and the work that Dennis Richardson will do into the royal commission.”

Premier Chris Minns last month indicated his intent to hold a state-based investigation, saying the community deserved clear answers about the factors that led to the attack and how it can be prevented in the future.

“NSW will fully cooperate with the Royal Commission and provide whatever assistance is required to support its work,” Minns said.

“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. 

“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.”

Tackling four key areas, the commission will examine the key drivers of antisemitism in Australia, make recommendations to enforcement, border, immigration and security; as well as examine the circumstances around the Bondi terror attack, and make recommendations to strengthen social cohesion.

Elements related to NSW issues may need quick investigation, Minns says

Speaking to press on Friday, Minns said although it was important to have a single royal commission he was “not ruling out our own inquiry”, referencing independent Jewish security groups that the state may need “immediate information that could help us”.

“I’ve got confidence in the royal commission but there may be elements that need to be investigated quickly as it relates to NSW issues,” he said.

In response to the attacks, the Minns government rushed to pass controversial legislation before Christmas that included the establishment of stricter gun laws, the banning of terrorist symbols and other hate signs or slogans, and restrictions on the authorisations of protests across a specified area for 14 days and up to three months following the declaration of a terrorist incident.

Police Commissioner Lanyon enacted a ban on protest applications within hours of the Bill passing, applicable across Sydney’s South West Metropolitan, North West Metropolitan and Central Metropolitan areas. On Tuesday, the restrictions were extended for another two weeks

The government has been widely criticised for the move, with three civil rights groups yesterday launching a constitutional challenge against the legislation.

Co-applicants the Blak Caucus, Palestine Action Group (PAG) and Jews Against the Occupation argue the contentious laws “impermissibly burden the implied constitutional freedom of communication on government and political matters”.

On Friday, Minns issued his support for Lanyon’s decision to extend the restrictions, citing potential “fear and public safety issues.”

“It’s heated passions at the moment and the truth of the matter is we don’t need further division and aggravation on the streets of Sydney during this difficult period,” he said.

“I think the decision by the police commissioner, while it has been opposed by some, is the right call.”