The prime minister has announced a commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.
On Thursday, more than three weeks after the deadly shooting, Anthony Albanese backflipped on his initial resistance to a commission, bowing to growing pressure from victims of the attack and their families, the Jewish community, members of the public and members of Albanese’s own caucus.
The prime minister defended the decision not to call a commonwealth inquiry earlier into the attack on a Hanukah celebration at Bondi beach on 14 December in which 15 people were killed.
Here’s what the commonwealth commission will look like and what it will do.
What will the commission look at?
The former high court justice Virginia Bell has been asked to look at four key areas:
The “nature and prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society” as well as the key drivers of antisemitism in Australia, including ideologically and religiously motivated extremism and radicalisation.
Recommendations that could help law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies tackle antisemitism. During his press conference, Albanese said it was crucial that “when people arrive in Australia they leave any hatreds or prejudices that they have in the customs hall”.
The circumstances surrounding the Bondi terror attack. Albanese said the former Asio boss Dennis Richardson’s previously announced intelligence review – which will now become part of the royal commission – would be central to this.
Any other recommendations that could strengthen social cohesion and counter “the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism in Australia”.
How will the commission work?
The commission will have less than one year to examine the four areas. The prime minister said he had asked the inquiry to release its final report by 14 December.
Bell will be supported by Richardson – together they will together release an interim report in April, around the same time Richardson’s intelligence review was initially due to be handed to the government.
Royal commissions have broad powers to summon witnesses and request individuals or organisations to produce documents as evidence. All states and territories have been asked to join and work with the commission.
It’s unclear whether the Richardson inquiry will gain more powers due to being a part of the commission, or whether it will change how he conducts hearings.
The prime minister would not provide details on whether the commission would hold public or private hearings, or whether he and the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, would be compelled to provide evidence before it. He said both questions would be a matter for Bell.
Royal commissions are administered by the attorney general’s department.
What happens to the NSW royal commission?
Last month the NSW premier, Chris Minns, announced a state royal commission into the attack.
During his press conference on Thursday, Albanese said there would only be one royal commission taking place. In a statement after the press conference, Minns said the state royal commission would no longer go ahead and NSW would fully cooperate with the commonwealth inquiry.
Who is Virginia Bell?
Bell served as a former high court justice between 2009 and 2011, and is a former judge on the NSW supreme court and court of appeal, who has worked on previous royal commissions.
Bell was appointed counsel on NSW’s Wood royal commission that examined integrity in the state police service between 1995 and 1997. She was also commissioned by Albanese’s Labor government in 2022 to investigate former prime minister Scott Morrison’s secret decisions to appoint himself to multiple ministerial portfolios.
Are there concerns the royal commission could platform antisemitism?
One of the prime minister’s earlier concerns with a commonwealth royal commission was that it could platform some of the “worst statements and worst voices” on antisemitism.
Asked on Thursday how those concerns would be allayed, Albanese said the commission has instructions that the inquiry be conducted in a way that “doesn’t undermine social cohesion”, and considers social cohesion in how the hearings take place.
Is the ongoing criminal case an issue?
One of the alleged shooters, Naveed Akram, has been charged with dozens of offences, including 15 counts of murder.
Albanese said he had confidence in Bell to navigate the commission without prejudicing the criminal proceedings.
“It’s one of the reasons why we chose someone who has a criminal law background, has been in senior positions in the supreme court and the high court of Australia. That is, she’s the most qualified person we could possibly consider,” Albanese said.
