Anthony Albanese leaves door open to Bondi Beach royal commission backflip amid mounting pressure

Anthony Albanese has left the door open to a royal commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack after a noticeable shift in his language amid mounting pressure — including from within his party.

The Prime Minister refused to rule out a Commonwealth probe into the nation’s worst terrorist attack when explicitly asked during a press conference in Cloncurry in north-west Queensland on Tuesday.

His softer wording comes after weeks of resisting calls from victims’ families, the Jewish community, business leaders and sporting stars — with an open letter penned by former Labor members on Monday evening marking just the latest appeal.

Former Labor MP Mike Kelly was among the more than 20 signatories ordering a rethink and hinted to reporters in Canberra on Tuesday that there was a growing list of current Labor MPs showing support.

In the wake of the horrific December 14 mass shooting, the PM had instead opted for a snap review by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson and insisted the federal government would support the NSW State-level royal commission.

Although no firm decision has been made, the PM pledged to do “everything that is possible” for national unity when asked on Tuesday if he was “prepared to change tack” on his royal commission rejection.

“What we’re prioritising is the immediate needs of the Richardson review, making sure that we get those security mechanisms and intelligence and actions properly examined, so that if there are any weaknesses or any failings in the system that will occur, that’s been priority one,” Mr Albanese said in Queensland on Tuesday.

“Priority two is recalling Parliament once we have the legislation required, once again, to take strong action against hate speech, to strengthen the laws that we have put in place.

“And we’re continuing to examine everything else that is required.

“I continue to be engaged with leaders in the Jewish community. I’m talking and meeting on a daily basis with people to make sure that we do everything that is possible.

“The NSW government has said it will have a royal commission, but we’re talking to NSW about how that would operate.”

Mr Albanese’s signalling of a potential backflip on Tuesday comes after his industry minister Tim Ayres had labelled a royal commission “not necessary” earlier in the day.

“There is work to do with the intelligence agencies that work is on-foot now. It’s on foot now, not being delayed by two and a half years of a royal commission that, in our view, is not necessary to get the work done,” he told Sky News on Tuesday.

Senator Ayres in late December had also said a royal commission would be “symbolic” and cause “division and delay” despite the families of victims pleading for one.

The Australian Jewish Association accused the PM of being “dragged kicking and screaming” to the position after ignoring the concerns of the community in the wake of the massacre which claimed 15 lives.

“AJA did predict this. There will be a Royal Commission but it looks like the Prime Minister will be dragged there kicking and screaming. He could have just done the right thing from the beginning,” the organisation posted to X.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley issued a statement after the PM’s Queensland press conference, warning him “words are no longer enough” after “weeks of delay and added anguish for victims’ families”.

“Reports that the Prime Minister may finally relent and establish a Commonwealth royal commission into the Bondi terror attack and anti-Semitism are welcome, but words are no longer enough,” she said.

“If the Prime Minister is serious, there is a clear starting point.”

Ms Ley insisted that if the PM did launch the Commonwealth probe, victims’ families must approve the drafted terms of reference.

She added a royal commission must meet minimum tests, which included accountability of executive and ministerial decisions, a “reckoning” on anti-Semitism and extremism, to give a voice to people with lived experience, and to have the power to compel witnesses and documents.

“If he proceeds now, he must do so on the terms of victims and families, not on his own political timetable,” she said.

She added that the Coalition stood “ready to work constructively” to “ensure a bipartisan” response to the terror attack.

Shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace had earlier accused Labor of “living in absolute denial” and highlighted that “every coroner of Australian society” has come forward to call for a royal commission.

“Only a royal commission, our pre-eminent form of inquiry in this country, has the ability to be able to subpoena documents, to be able to compel people to come before it and give evidence,” he told Sky.

“It’s not just the Coalition. It seems to be that it’s in almost every corner of Australian society. Everybody is saying it. But the Labor Party, the unions and the Greens.”

Liberal Senator James Paterson added that the families of Bondi victims “should not have had to fight this hard to be heard after our worst ever terror attack”.

“The Prime Minister should stop prolonging their distress and immediately backflip on a royal commission,” he said.