No action could stop Bondi shooting: Royal Commission
Reviewing Australia’s counter-terrorism systems is among recommendations made following the massacre of 15 people at Bondi – but no issue “requiring urgent or immediate action” has been identified.
More security at Jewish events, a review of Australia’s intelligence systems and nationally consistent gun laws are among the recommendations from a highly-anticipated probe established after the Bondi terror attack.
The Royal Commission on Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion’s interim report delivered 14 recommendations on Thursday, including increasing security at Jewish events and festivals.
Also recommended was a review of Australia’s joint counter-terrorism network, including leadership structures, team integration, systems access and information sharing arrangements.
Governments should also prioritise the rollout of nationally consistent gun laws, the report said.
The attack killed 15 people attending a Hanukkah festival at the popular beach in December, prompting the government to eventually launch the wide-ranging inquiry.
Despite recommending reviews of existing systems, former High Court judge Virginia Bell and commission head said no issue “requiring urgent or immediate action” had been identified.
“No material or advice from any agency identified any gap in the existing legal and regulatory frameworks that impeded the ability for law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to prevent, or respond to, an attack of the kind that occurred at Bondi on 14 December 2025,” the report stated.
“No commonwealth or state intelligence or law enforcement agency has suggested that it was prevented from taking prohibitive actions before or on 14 December 2025 by the then current legislative and authorising framework.”
Bell delivered the lengthy report to Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Government House in Canberra.
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“On behalf of all Australians, this is a very important matter that you have reported on. I look forward to receiving the final report in due course,” Mostyn said in front of gathered media.
Sajid Akram was shot dead during the massacre while his son, Naveed Akram, remains before the courts on terrorism and multiple murder charges.
The commission will enter an initial block of public hearings in Sydney from May 4 to 15, addressing Jewish-Australian lived experiences of anti-Semitism.
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