Commonwealth royal commission to probe Bondi attack
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has caved to political pressure, announcing a royal commission will investigate the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.
The events leading up to Australia’s worst mass shooting in decades will be under the microscope in a royal commission tasked with investigating anti-Semitism and failures in the nation’s intelligence agencies.
After weeks of political pressure from Jewish groups, business leaders, sporting greats and the federal opposition, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced a commonwealth probe into the Bondi mass shooting.
Former High Court judge Virginia Bell will lead the inquiry despite opposition from some members of Australia’s Jewish community because of her past rulings which have helped overturn anti-protest laws.
Ms Bell has been asked to look into the nature and prevalence of anti-Semitism and religiously motivated extremism.
She will also examine the circumstances surrounding the December 14 terror attack, and has been empowered to make any other recommendations needed to strengthen Australia’s social cohesion.
The former justice will report back to the government by the one-year anniversary of the Bondi attack, Mr Albanese said.
“This was an anti-Semitic terrorist attack, aimed at Jewish Australians, inspired by ISIS. The deadliest that has ever occurred on Australian soil,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“Of course, a royal commission is not the beginning or the end of what Australia must do to eradicate anti-Semitism, or protect ourselves from terrorism, or strengthen our social cohesion. That’s an ongoing national effort for all of us as individuals, but also institutions.
“Here in Australia light will always triumph over darkness.”
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Fifteen people were killed and dozens more injured in the attack carried out by father-and-son duo Sajid and Naveed Akram when the pair opened fire on Jewish Australians celebrating Hanukkah.
A separate inquiry led by former spy chief Dennis Richardson is investigating the role of Australia’s intelligence agencies and will be rolled into the federal investigation.
A NSW royal commission into the attack may also be rolled into the federal inquiry.
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– AAP
