World News
Bondi mass shooting: Australia’s PM announces major national inquiry into antisemitism
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced a wide-ranging national inquiry into antisemitism, weeks after a mass shooting at a Jewish holiday event in Bondi Beach left 15 people dead.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced a wide-ranging national inquiry into antisemitism, weeks after a mass shooting at a Jewish holiday event in Bondi Beach left 15 people dead.
The investigation will take the form of a royal commission, Australia’s most powerful independent public inquiry, and will be led by former High Court judge Virginia Bell, Albanese said in Canberra.
The commission will examine the nature, prevalence and drivers of antisemitism across Australia, as well as the circumstances surrounding the Bondi attack. It will also make recommendations on law enforcement responses, strengthening social cohesion and countering extremism.
A final report is due by December 14, marking one year since the shooting, which occurred during a Hanukkah celebration at the Sydney landmark.
“This was an antisemitic terrorist attack, aimed at Jewish Australians, inspired by ISIS — the deadliest attack of its kind ever to occur on Australian soil,” Albanese said, referring to the Islamic State group.
The surviving suspect, Naveed Akram (24), faces dozens of charges including murder and terrorism, and has yet to enter a plea. His father, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police during the incident.
The announcement follows weeks of mounting pressure from lawmakers across party lines, Jewish community leaders and public figures — including prominent sports personalities — who had called for a national royal commission rather than a state-level inquiry by New South Wales, where the attack took place.
Albanese had earlier expressed concerns that a royal commission could be time-consuming but rejected suggestions on Thursday that he had bowed to political pressure.
“I have listened,” he said. “In a democracy, that’s a good thing.”
The Prime Minister said a previously launched review of Australia’s security and law-enforcement agencies would now be folded into the royal commission.
He also signalled new legislation in response to the attack, including further tightening Australia’s gun laws and criminalising the rhetoric of so-called hate preachers, which the government says often falls short of existing prosecution thresholds.
