Defence, security leaders join royal commission call

Australia’s defence and national security leaders are calling for a royal commission into antisemitism as Anthony Albanese leaves the door open to the inquiry.

Defence and national security leaders are calling for a royal commission into anti-Semitism and Islamic extremism, amid speculation the prime minister is poised to agree to a federal inquiry into the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Anthony Albanese has softened his position on setting up a royal commission into the December 14 terror attack, after previously rejecting calls from Jewish groups, families of the victims and the coalition.

Fifteen people were killed and more than 40 others injured after Naveed Akram, who is before the courts, and his father Sajid Akram, who died at the scene, allegedly targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at the beach.

In the letter, the more than 30 leaders, including former governor-general David Hurley, urged Mr Albanese to “act immediately”.

“Anti-Semitism and Islamist extremism pose serious national security challenges for Australia,” they said.

“They fracture social cohesion, fuel violence, and weaken our national resilience.

“At a time of growing risk of international conflict, anti-Semitism has already exposed Australia to foreign interference from hostile states and extremist groups.”

A “properly constituted and empowered inquiry” would have the ability to examine the actions of Labor itself, and its ministers, following Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack on Israel in 2023, the letter noted.

Former home affairs department secretary Mike Pezzullo and former Department of Veterans’ Affairs secretary Major General Liz Cosson (retired) are among the signatories.

In resisting a national royal commission, Mr Albanese has said a federal inquiry would take too long and has focused on a security services review under former spymaster Dennis Richardson.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has led calls for the inquiry in the days following the attack.

“I want to make it very clear, first and foremost, that the terms of the royal commission need to be agreed to by victims’ families,” she told reporters in Sydney.

Ms Ley said there needed to be “full accountability for executive and ministerial decisions,” particularly since the Hamas attack.

The government will bring back parliament early in the coming weeks, likely before Australia Day on January 26, to implement legislative measures including strengthening hate-speech laws.

Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain, like Mr Albanese on Tuesday, left the door open to a royal commission when pressed on the government’s position.

“It’s really important that we move as quickly as we possibly can to deal with a range of those issues,” she told ABC RN on Wednesday.

“It’s really important that we understand where these calls are coming for and what reason.”

Independent MP Allegra Spender, whose electorate the attack occurred in, said the more conciliatory stance taken by the prime minister on the inquiry was a “positive move”.

“This is what really the community is asking for, and what I think I genuinely believe that the community, and particularly the Jewish community deserves,” she told ABC radio on Wednesday.

“This is the largest terrorist attack on any part of our community and that we’ve ever had in Australia, and it is up to us to make sure we leave no stone unturned to learn the lessons of it.”