Anthony Albanese blasted for ‘bulls...’ Bondi response following anti-Semitism royal commission knock back

Anthony Albanese’s response to rising anti-Semitism in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack has been blasted as “bulls..t” as he resists demands for a royal commission, despite a promise of cooperation from the opposition. A one week after the massacre which killed 15 people, the Prime Minister announced his own department would review the processes of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the led-up to the attack. “The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will examine whether federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies have the right powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe,” Mr Albanese said in a statement. “The ISIS-inspired atrocity last Sunday reinforces the rapidly changing security environment in our nation. Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond.” Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg slammed the Prime Minister’s announcement of a review as “wholly inadequate” in comparison to a royal commission. “To use an Australian colloquialism, its bulls..t,” Mr Frydenberg said. “It’s weak, it’s wrong, it’s an abrogation of your first and fundamental duty to protect all Australian citizens after the deadliest terrorist attack on Australian soil at Bondi Beach. “Your departmental review will not go to the heart of the issues and the radicalisation within our country, which has been allowed to explode on your watch.” Mr Frydenberg questioned the PM’s motivations and his reluctance to hold an independent inquiry. “The Commonwealth must take the lead with the most comprehensive, powerful royal commission possible. You supported Royal Commissions into the banks, veterans, aged care and welfare system,” he said. “Now 15 innocent souls including 10-year-old Matilda have been murdered by radical Islamists and all you are prepared to commit to is an internal departmental review? It beggars belief and is the latest failure in federal leadership. “Anti-Jew intimidation, harassment and violence has metastasised in our country and must not be allowed to go one day longer. The tsunami of hate is not just an attack on Jewish Australians, it’s a threat to every Australian. Prime Minister enough is enough.” The Albanese review is expected to take only four months to complete and will be headed up by former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Dennis Richardson. For days, Mr Albanese has resisted mounting pressure from the federal Opposition and crossbench MPs to hold a royal commission into the rise of antisemitism and extremism that led to the Bondi terrorist attack. On the same day that the Albanese Government’s review was announced, Opposition Leader Susan Ley released the coalitions draft six page terms of reference for a commission of inquiry. The stated purpose was to: “inquire into the role of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, the media, education, arts and cultural sectors, as well as broader civil society, in preventing, responding to, and mitigating antisemitism, including how their actions contributed to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack”. Under the Coalition’s proposal, an interim report of findings would need to be provided to the Governor-General on or before November 23 next year. “This is about truth, accountability and keeping Australians safe,” Ms Ley said. “We have consulted carefully and drafted these terms of reference for a Commonwealth Royal Commission. I am willing to sit down with the Prime Minister immediately, to refine and finalise these terms of reference, so a Royal Commission can be established before Christmas.” NSW Premier Chris Minns has thrown his support behind a royal commission to determine what led alleged gunmen Sajid Akram, and his son Naveed Akram, to open fire on innocent families and children on December 14. Mr Minns will recall Parliament this week to pass urgent reforms to firearm and hate-speech legislation as part of the State’s response to the attack. “This is the most serious event that’s affected New South Wales for decades. If we’re not going to have a royal commission into this, when would you use the powers of that extraordinary provision in our Act?” Mr Minns said. “Until we’ve got a full and accurate picture of exactly how this happened, with a plan to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, then I don’t have answers for the people of New South Wales about what happened on Sunday.” Part of the reforms to be introduced include restrictions on the authorisation of public assemblies in a specific area “during high-risk times, like when there is a terrorist event in NSW”. The declaration, which requires agreement of police and the Minister, could apply anywhere in the State. The NSW Premier’s stance on the need for a more powerful and independent inquiry were also supported by Federal teal MP Allegra Spender, whose Wentworth electorate covers Bondi and Sydney’s east, home to Australia’s biggest Jewish communities. Ms Spender said the current proposal by Mr Albanese merely amounted to “the government investigating itself” and “won’t cut it” for the devastated community. Closer to home, State Opposition Leader Basil Zempalis also threw in his support. “There should be a royal commission which looks at all the issues, State and Federal. It has to have a defined terms of reference, a clear time frame and a focus on safety,” Mr Zempilas said. “The attention this week has rightly been on Sydney and NSW but we have to remain vigilant here.” Mr Zempilas also questioned what action the Cook Government was taking to strengthen WA legislation in the event of a terrorist attack. His comments follow the tabling of a report in Parliament earlier this week into a review of the Terrorism Prevention Detention Act by WA Police. The report made 16 recommendations including that consideration be given to closing a legal loophole which could force officers to release a person they believe is planning, or about to engage in, a terrorist attack. “The Act does not permit WA Police Force to detain a person who is believed to be planning, or about to engage in, a terrorist act until an issuing authority, being a judge or former judge appointed under the Act, makes a PDO,” the report said. “There may be a situation where the person is already in police custody as a suspect under the Criminal Investigation Act but there is no longer any basis to continue to hold the person. “The person would need to be released while police apply for a PDO, running the risk that police may lose contact with the person or that the person may be able to take steps to conduct or advance the terrorist act.” The Cook government has not committed to any timeframes around amending the legislation.