Key Takeaways:
- The Australian government is under pressure to launch a royal commission into the Bondi terror shooting and antisemitism.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has softened his resistance to a royal commission, opening the door to a national inquiry.
- The government is discussing the terms of reference and the timing of a potential royal commission with community leaders and stakeholders.
- The opposition and some Labor MPs are pushing for a royal commission, while others are advocating for a more narrowly focused review.
- The government is committed to introducing hate speech laws and implementing reforms to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Introduction to the Royal Commission Debate
The Australian government is facing mounting pressure to launch a royal commission into the Bondi terror shooting and antisemitism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has softened his resistance to a royal commission, opening the door to a national inquiry. This shift in stance comes after intense pressure from victims’ families, former Labor MPs, and the business community. The prime minister has emphasized that his priority is still on immediate steps, including a review of Australia’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies. However, he has begun speaking with Jewish community leaders to "examine everything else required" to respond to the attack.
The Government’s Initial Response
Initially, the government had dismissed the need for a royal commission, instead favoring a four-part response that includes a review by the former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson, reforms to hate speech and immigration, and implementation of Jillian Segal’s antisemitism review. However, senior government ministers have softened their hostility to a royal commission in recent days. Minister Mark Butler said the government respects the "sincere and heartfelt" calls for a royal commission, while Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged that those calls are coming from a "good place." This shift in tone suggests that the government is willing to reconsider its stance on a royal commission.
Internal Pressure and Opposition
Internal pressure has been building within the Labor Party, with some backbenchers, such as Mike Freelander and Ed Husic, publicly backing a royal commission. Other Labor MPs have privately expressed support for a national inquiry that examines the broader issue of antisemitism. The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has been demanding a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and has welcomed the prospect of a backflip by the prime minister. Ley emphasized that the victims’ families must agree to the terms of reference for any royal commission.
The Path Forward
The government is discussing with its NSW counterparts how the state’s royal commission will work, but has not ruled out a federal inquiry. Prime Minister Albanese emphasized that his government is engaged with the community and the NSW government to ensure that everything required is done to build social cohesion and promote unity. The Greens are yet to state a position on a royal commission but are open to some form of national inquiry that examines extremism and the targeting of migrant communities. Parliament is expected to be recalled before its scheduled resumption in early February to debate hate speech changes, and it is likely that the royal commission will be a key topic of discussion.
The Need for Urgent Action
The prime minister has rejected claims that parliament could have been recalled before the holiday period to respond to the antisemitic shooting. Albanese emphasized that consultation on the new laws will begin in the coming days, but did not confirm when parliament will be recalled. The government is committed to introducing hate speech laws and implementing reforms to prevent similar attacks in the future. However, the opposition and some Labor MPs are pushing for more urgent action, including the establishment of a royal commission. As the debate continues, it is clear that the government must balance the need for urgent action with the need for careful consideration and consultation to ensure that any response is effective and appropriate.