Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned that a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack could delay meaningful outcomes "by a number of years," as he released new details of his government’s probe into national intelligence agencies.
Speaking on Dec. 29, Albanese expressed sympathy for the victims’ families calling for a royal commission but stressed that such an inquiry would slow the government’s ability to act swiftly.
The intelligence review, led by former senior bureaucrat Dennis Richardson, will examine inter-agency information sharing, what was known about the alleged attackers before Dec. 14, and whether further preventive measures were possible.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke added that a public royal commission could provide a platform for extremists and argued that national security matters "don’t lend themselves to public inquiry by definition."
Meanwhile, NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed that work is underway on a state-based royal commission, emphasising consultations with the Jewish community before establishing terms of reference.
Families of the victims, along with opposition parties, continue to call for a Commonwealth royal commission, citing rising antisemitism and the need for accountability following Australia’s deadliest terror attack.