A new report from the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion says authorities believe there are no gaps in the law that, if filled, could have prevented the Bondi terror attack.
The report also says authorities believe that under Australia’s laws, they could not have taken any further actions to respond to the attack.
It has made 14 recommendations, some of which are confidential.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the Government will adopt all of the report’s recommendations.
Background
On 14 December, two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish community event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 and injuring dozens who had gathered to celebrate the start of the Jewish festival of Chanukah.
The mass shooting was declared a terrorist attack, triggering calls for a Royal Commission into antisemitism in Australia. The NSW Government set up a Commission, while the Federal Government initially rejected the calls.
Albanese then announced a Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion on 8 January.
Interim report
The Royal Commission began under the direction of former High Court Justice Virginia Bell.
On Thursday, the Commission released an interim report which includes 14 recommendations.
Five of these are confidential because they contain sensitive information about Australian authorities’ operations. Other parts of the report are confidential due to the pending criminal case against one of the alleged shooters.
Swipe for the key recommendations.
Security
- Heighten security at “high risk” Jewish festivals and events
- Gun laws
- Prioritise setting up a Firearms Agreement that is consistent across the country
- Implement the proposed National Gun Buyback Scheme
Counter-terrorism
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- Employ a full-time national counter-terrorism coordinator
- Update the Counter-Terrorism handbook promptly, then every three years
- Have the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee brief leaders at least once a year
“It is not suggested that had any recommended change been in place on 14 December 2025 the Bondi attack might have been averted.” - Commissioner Bell in the interim report.
Response
Albanese said he supports all of the recommendations, reiterating his “call for states and territories to work with the Commonwealth”.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said his Government would “implement them in full,” adding they would “do everything we can to change”.
This was echoed by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, who said he is “committed to implementing any recommendations that impact on the agency”.
Opposition
Shadow Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Jonno Duniam said he believes the Government should have “lift[ed] its resourcing” for “counter-terror efforts” due to a “threat level” of “50% plus”.
He said they “need to work with state and territory governments” to implement the gun buyback scheme, “or else their much-vaunted reforms will all have been for nothing.”
Community
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Michele Goldman called the interim report “a very important first step.”
She noted the report “clearly focuses on the need for greatercoordination between ouragencies.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said the Commission needed to find out “what can be done in future to ensure... challenges are met by the police”.
What’s next?
The final report is due by 14 December, the one-year anniversary of the attack.
The first block of public hearings will begin next week in Sydney.
They will be held for two weeks, focused on the definition and nature of antisemitism, as well as the experiences of Jewish Australians.
