Key Takeaways
- A royal commission is being considered to investigate the recent horrific event and provide recommendations on how governments can address and respond to similar events in the future.
- The federal government has prioritized taking immediate action to crack down on hate speech and tighten gun laws, but has opposed a royal commission, citing concerns about delays and resource allocation.
- Opposition parties and community leaders are calling for a royal commission, arguing that it is necessary to hold governments accountable and ensure public safety.
- The establishment of a cabinet-level minister for social cohesion has been proposed to address the rise of antisemitism and promote social cohesion.
Introduction to the Royal Commission Proposal
A Commonwealth royal commission has been proposed to investigate the recent horrific event and provide recommendations on how governments can address, respond, and improve in the wake of this tragedy. The commission would be guided by the input of Jewish community leaders and national security experts, and would have the power to accept public submissions and hold both state and federal governments to account. This proposal has been supported by several politicians, including Spender, whose electorate of Wentworth takes in Bondi, where the event occurred.
The Need for a Royal Commission
Spender has added her voice to calls for an investigation that could accept public submissions and be developed in consultation with the Jewish community. She believes that the inquiry should be broad-ranging and independent, with investigatory powers akin to a royal commission. The inquiry head should have a continuing role with responsibility for monitoring the progress by government at all levels against their recommendations, and report back regularly to ensure public accountability for implementation. This would ensure that the government is held accountable for its actions and that the community is kept safe.
Government Response to the Proposal
The federal government has said its priority is on taking immediate action to crack down on hate speech and tighten gun laws. However, Albanese’s ministers have opposed a royal commission, saying it would take too long and draw resources away from law enforcement. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said that the last thing he wants is the delays that happen on a royal commission, and that the government needs to put everything right into making sure people are kept safe and doing everything to make sure this does not happen again. This response has been criticized by opposition parties and community leaders, who argue that a royal commission is necessary to ensure that the government is held accountable and that the community is kept safe.
Opposition Response to the Government’s Stance
Opposition home affairs spokesman Jonno Duniam has said that a state-based investigation would not go far enough to investigate the national organisations charged with protecting Australians. He believes that a Commonwealth royal commission is necessary to investigate the national organisations charged with protecting Australians, as the issues related to the massacre involve Commonwealth agencies and security and intelligence agencies that are not under NSW jurisdiction. Former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg has also accused Burke of hiding from accountability and said he needs to answer questions over the massacre because it occurred on his watch.
The Importance of Social Cohesion
Spender has also called for a cabinet-level minister for social cohesion to be established, which Duniam said the opposition would support if it could guarantee an end to the perpetration of antisemitism. Albanese has said that his government has prioritised social cohesion, citing the work that has been done in areas like multicultural affairs. However, he believes that the first priority must be keeping people safe, and that is what the government has done. The establishment of a cabinet-level minister for social cohesion could help to address the rise of antisemitism and promote social cohesion, and could be an important step in preventing similar events from occurring in the future.
Conclusion and Next Steps
In conclusion, the proposal for a royal commission to investigate the recent horrific event has been met with both support and opposition. While the federal government has prioritized taking immediate action to crack down on hate speech and tighten gun laws, opposition parties and community leaders believe that a royal commission is necessary to hold governments accountable and ensure public safety. The establishment of a cabinet-level minister for social cohesion could also help to address the rise of antisemitism and promote social cohesion. As the government continues to grapple with the aftermath of this tragedy, it is clear that a thorough and independent investigation is necessary to ensure that the community is kept safe and that those responsible are held accountable.
