Pressure Builds for Federal Royal Commission on Bondi Attack

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under increasing pressure from within his own Labor Party and the opposition to establish a federal royal commission into the failures that preceded the deadly antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives last Sunday.

The attack, described by authorities as ISIS-inspired, targeted a Jewish festival in the Sydney suburb, highlighting vulnerabilities in Australia's security apparatus amid a reported rise in antisemitism since the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. Albanese, speaking after attending a vigil for the victims on Sunday evening where he faced boos from some of the estimated 15,000 attendees, announced that former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson would lead an independent review of federal agencies, including the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. The inquiry, housed in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, will assess information-sharing processes, powers, and structures to prevent future threats, with findings expected in April.

Albanese endorsed a separate New South Wales state royal commission announced by Premier Chris Minns, emphasizing cooperation...