Chalmers says calls for royal commission come from a good place

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has acknowledged growing calls for a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack and antisemitism, saying the push comes from “a good place”.

Speaking at a press conference today, Monday 5 January, Chalmers said he respected eminent Australians calling for a royal commission, including leaders from the business community, but said the government was focused on what he described as urgent and immediate responses.

“These calls for a royal commission come overwhelmingly from a good place, and a lot of the voices that I’ve heard are voices that I respect a great deal,” Chalmers said. Despite this, the Albanese government continues to resist a public inquiry.

Peak business groups, including the Business Council of Australia, have argued that a federal royal commission would help protect social cohesion in workplaces and reassure international investors that Australia remains a stable destination. More than 100 senior business figures have publicly backed the call, warning that rising antisemitism poses economic as well as social risks.

Jewish community leaders have argued that the Bondi attack cannot be viewed in isolation, saying it occurred against a backdrop of escalating antisemitism that has left many Jewish Australians feeling unsafe at schools, synagogues, workplaces and public events.

They have warned that confidence in closed reviews is low within the community, with many believing only a transparent Commonwealth royal commission can fully examine the causes of the attack, failures in prevention, and the wider climate of hatred targeting Jews across Australia.

When asked about the business community’s position, Chalmers said he did not doubt the sincerity of those calling for a royal commission but pointed to the government’s existing measures. These include strengthening hate speech laws, tightening gun controls, implementing recommendations from the Segal review, and contributing to the NSW royal commission.

He also highlighted the federal review being conducted by former senior public servant Dennis Richardson, which is examining the performance of Commonwealth intelligence and law enforcement agencies ahead of the Bondi attack.

“It’s important we learn the lessons of that horrifying atrocity on the beach and in the park at Bondi,” Chalmers said. “There are a number of ways to go about that.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the government’s approach, arguing that advice from national security experts supports a closed review rather than a full royal commission. He has said this would deliver answers more quickly and avoid duplication with the NSW inquiry.

However, divisions are emerging within Labor. Several MPs and party figures have stated that rejecting a royal commission risks further alienating the Jewish community and may prove unsustainable given the breadth of public support.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said there was near unity across business, community and national security circles in favour of a royal commission, accusing the Prime Minister of ignoring that consensus.

“When you look at that unity across so many sectors of society, you simply have to ask the question, why is the Prime Minister not listening?” Ley said.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud echoed the criticism, saying Albanese was “out of touch” for refusing to establish a public inquiry.

Senior Labor minister Tim Ayres rejected the opposition’s stance, accusing the Coalition of politicising the attack.

“I have not seen a more partisan response to an event like this in my political life,” Ayres told the ABC.

Despite the government’s insistence that its current approach is sufficient, pressure for a Commonwealth royal commission continues to build, with support now spanning Jewish organisations, peak business groups, sporting figures, legal experts and former national security leaders.