Minns admits failure to protect Jews before Bondi attack

NSW Premier Chris Minns has acknowledged that his government failed in its core duty to protect citizens during the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach last December.

In a press conference on Thursday following the release of the royal commission’s interim report, Mr Minns described the document as “sobering reading” and accepted responsibility for the shortcomings exposed in the lead-up to the massacre that claimed 15 lives at a Chanukah celebration.

“The reality for a state government is that its highest responsibility is to protect its people. And on December 14 last year, we didn’t do that,” he said. “We take responsibility for that today and … do everything we can to change and ensure we confront evil and terrorism wherever it is in New South Wales.”

Mr Minns highlighted a “rising tide of hatred” against Jewish Australians in the years before the attack, describing the violence as “incubated in hatred”. He stressed that the government must now address not only the immediate security failures but also the broader environment that allowed antisemitism to escalate.

For Sydney’s Jewish community, which bore the brunt of the attack and has endured heightened fear and incidents since, the premier’s frank admission and pledge carry significant weight. The interim report recommends stronger police presence at high-risk Jewish events and better risk assessments, directly responding to concerns raised by the Community Security Group that the threat level was assessed as “high” before the festival.

Jewish leaders have welcomed the focus on improved security measures but described the report as only “part of the solution”. NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said antisemitism was not solely a law enforcement issue but a deeper societal one, with the environment for Jewish Australians deteriorating well before Bondi. Community figures have urged more action to tackle the normalisation of hatred and have encouraged Jewish Australians to share their experiences in the commission’s upcoming public hearings.

Mr Minns’ commitment to fully implement all relevant state recommendations — including enhanced protection for Jewish festivals and events — offers hope of tangible improvements in daily safety. However, many in the community remain anxious, with one rabbi noting the persistent feeling that “this could happen again”. The premier’s words signal a shift toward prioritising prevention, even if some measures prove controversial.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has similarly committed the federal government to adopting all relevant recommendations, emphasising national coordination on counter-terrorism and other measures.

Responses from other state premiers have been more limited in the immediate aftermath. While the royal commission calls for a nationally consistent approach, including on firearms reforms, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has indicated his state will “go it alone” on anti-semitism legislation rather than fully align on every front. Victoria has shown support through earlier calls from former premiers for a strong national response, but no detailed public statement from current Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was immediately available on Thursday.

The mixed reactions underscore the challenge of achieving uniform action across jurisdictions at a time when Jewish communities in multiple states continue to report elevated risks. Mr Minns’ direct acceptance of fault and promise of decisive steps in NSW stand out as the clearest signal yet that lessons from Bondi must translate into concrete protections for a community still living with raw grief and ongoing insecurity.

Submissions to the commission must be made by the end of May. The full royal commission report is expected by the first anniversary of the attack in December 2026.