Former ALP dignitaries join the call for a Royal Commission

A group of former federal and state parliamentary ALP dignitaries has called on the Albanese government to establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into Antisemitism and the events that led to and enabled the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14.

In a statement,  the group wrote: ” At stake is the health of our democracy and our national security. This includes the very values and institutions that have helped create a safe, harmonious and multicultural Australia where all Australians, regardless of their background, ethnicity or religion, can live their lives free from the threat of violence.

Australians who are Jewish were the main target of this attack, but all Australians are made less safe by the extremism that has inexorably escalated into lethal actions.”

The statement pointed out that some Jewish children attend schools guarded by armed security and that schools themselves have walls and windows “designed to defend against bomb blasts and rifle fire”.

The group has highlighted that “the government must call a Royal Commission into the causes of the Bondi Beach Massacre, the broader ecosystem of terror and hate and the capacity of the agencies to monitor terrorist threats”.

The statement added: “This was the worst terrorist attack in Australia’s history on our soil. Fifteen Australians are dead and multiple wounded, some still battling for their lives. It was only due to the outstanding heroism of civilians and local law enforcement that prevented even more loss of life.

We commend NSW Premier Chris Minns for calling a NSW Royal Commission but such a commission cannot compel institutions and individuals beyond its jurisdiction to give evidence or provide Commonwealth officers with the necessary legal protection to speak frankly. Only a Commonwealth Royal Commission can unpack the dynamics of Jew hatred including aspects such as the social media threat, how hate and incitement is weaponised in Australia and how we can come together across the nation to defeat it.

This Royal Commission should have terms of reference sufficiently broad to allow the examination of systemic, legal, institutional, inter-jurisdictional and educational issues.

The Australian Jewish community has called on us to “shine a light against the darkness”. We can do no less.”

Signatories:

Mike Kelly

Former Minister for Defence Materiel, Federal member for Eden Monaro, President LIAC

Byron Danby

Secretary Labor Israel Action Committee (LIAC)

Michael Forshaw

Former Federal Labor Senator for NSW, Vice President LIAC

Mary Easson

Former Labor Federal member for Lowe, Vice President LIAC

Lorin Muhlmann

Assistant Secretary LIAC

Mark Bishop

Former Federal Labor Senator for Western Australia. 1996 – 2014

Honourable Walt Secord

Former Deputy Opposition leader in the NSW Legislative Council 2015 – 2019 and Former Deputy Chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel 2011 – 2023

Henry Pinskier

Former Vice President Victorian Labor Party

Jennie George AO

Former Federal member for Throsby, ACTU President 1996 -2000

Tony Lupton

Former Victorian Cabinet Secretary, State member for Prahran Victoria 2002 – 2010

Danielle Green

Former Parliamentary Secretary for Police and emergency services, State member for Yan Yean Victoria 2002 – 2022

Kim Wilkie

Former Federal member for Swan

Mike Symon

Former Federal member for Deakin

Michael Danby

Former Federal member for Melbourne Ports, Past Chair Parliamentary committee Foreign Affairs and Defence

Eric Roozendaal

Former Treasurer of NSW, Labor Member of the NSW Legislative council, General Secretary of the NSW ALP

Evan Thornley

Former member for the Victorian Legislative Council and Parliamentary Secretary to Premiers Steve Bracks and John Brumby

Nova Peris OAM OLY

Former Labor Senator for the Northern Territory

Michael Costa

Former Treasurer of NSW, Labor Member of the NSW Legislative council, Secretary of the Labour Council of NSW

Peter Baldwin

Former Minister for Social Security, Member for Sydney, Member of the NSW Legislative Council

Savanna Peake

Labor candidate for Wentworth 2025

Hon. Bernie Ripoll

Former Federal member for Oxley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer