‘Justice’: pressure ramped up for antisemitism probe
The coalition is ramping up pressure for a royal commission into anti-Semitism and its contribution to the Bondi massacre.
The opposition has put forward its plans for a broad royal commission to investigate antisemitism in the lead-up to the Bondi massacre, including scope to probe attitudes towards Israel.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has so far stared down calls for a federal inquiry into the attack that left 15 people dead, making it Australia’s worst massacre since the Port Arthur killings of 1996.
But in a move to ramp up pressure on his government, the coalition on Monday released its own terms of reference for a probe into antisemitism and the assault targeting Chanukah celebrations more than a week earlier.
The opposition’s inquiry would look at the roles of Commonwealth and state governments and agencies, as well as civil institutions such as the media, education and cultural sectors, in relation to antisemitism and their potential contributions to the terror attack.
Its proposed terms of reference include “the nature, prevalence and drivers of anti-Semitism in Australia leading up to the Bondi Beach attack … including antisemitism based on race, religion and attitudes towards, or conduct relating to, the state of Israel”.
Pro-Palestinian activists have frequently sought to separate their criticism of Israel for its offensive in Gaza following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks from any antisemitic activity that targets Jews.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the prime minister’s response to the horrors of Bondi had been proposals that were “too little, too late and will take far too long”.
“If the prime minister does not confront the causes of the Bondi massacre with honesty and resolve, the victims of this terrorist attack and their families will be denied the justice they deserve,” she said.
“Bondi is what happens when hate is tolerated and warnings are ignored.”
NSW has announced its own royal commission into the tragedy, which Premier Chris Minns said would be the most important in the state’s history.
Mr Albanese has said federal agencies such as ASIO will co-operate with the NSW inquiry, but he has stopped short of calling a national probe on the grounds it would take too long to complete.
Instead, he on Sunday announced a rapid review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies’ capabilities.
Conducted by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and led by former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson, it will not examine whether the government failed to adequately respond to rising anti-Semitism before the attack.
Independent MP Allegra Spender, whose federal electorate includes Bondi, has also called for a formal, independent inquiry into the attack to ensure it is not repeated.
By: Jacob Shteyman and Peter Bodkin/AAP
