Labor Sets Term for Bondi Terror Attack Review, Again Rules Out Royal Commission

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has again swept aside calls for a national royal commission into the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, in favour of a quicker review process.

The review, which will finalise its report by the end of April, will be led by retired intelligence head and former diplomat Dennis Richardson.

“The Richardson review will be able to look at any issues related to the events on December 14, the atrocity that was committed,” Albanese said in Canberra on Monday.

“This is the most experienced person who can have a look quickly, sharply, go through with the experience that he has to determine any further actions that are required by the Commonwealth government.

“He will talk as well, with not just New South Wales but other state agencies if required.”

Richardson will assess whether the relevant Commonwealth law enforcement and intelligence agencies, in the context of the Bondi shootings, performed to maximum effectiveness.

He will examine whether they have adequate powers, the right systems, processes and procedures, and determine whether information sharing with other federal, state and territory agencies is working.

He will also consider the circumstances in which the alleged offenders were assessed by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Federal Police and consider any necessary changes.

Jewish community groups have pushed Albanese to set up a national Royal Commission to examine the events leading up to the anti-Semitic terror mass shooting on Dec. 14.

Some 15 people died after a father-son duo inspired by ISIS targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach.

Nine people remain in hospital, including three who are in a critical but stable condition.

“Announcements made so far by the federal government in response to the Bondi massacre are not nearly enough,” read a letter from the families of Bondi victims to the prime minister.

“You owe us answers. You owe us accountability. And you owe Australians the truth.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said a national royal commission would “provide a public platform for some of the worst statements and worst voices” and that people would have to relive the worst examples of anti-Semitism.

“If a royal commission is to deal with issues like that, they have to provide public evidence for those voices as well,” he said.

The government needed “the sort of inquiry that keeps Australians safe and that does not provide a platform for the worst voice; the Richardson inquiry does exactly that,” Burke said.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley criticised Labor’s decision.

“The prime minister has actually insulted those who have endured the unimaginable. It is not protective, it is patronising,” she said in Canberra.

“What is the prime minister hiding?”

By Grace Crivellaro in Canberra.