They are now in different parties, but our two local MPs are singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to reviews of gun restrictions and Islamic extremism being needed in the federal Royal Commission into antisemitism and the Chanukah Massacre at Bondi Beach.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday announced a Royal Commission after weeks of intense lobbying from Jewish groups, business leaders, the opposition and others.
Former High Court judge Virginia Bell will lead the inquiry, examining the nature and prevalence of anti-Semitism and religiously motivated extremism, and will report back by the one-year anniversary of the attack.
The Government has asked Commissioner Bell to report before the end of the year, and to ensure this inquiry does not prejudice any future criminal proceedings.
The Royal Commission will cover four key areas, as set out in the Letters Patent.
- Tackling antisemitism by investigating the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society, and its key drivers in Australia, including ideologically and religiously motivated extremism and radicalisation.
- Making recommendations that will assist law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to tackle antisemitism, including through improvements to guidance and training within law enforcement, border control, immigration, and security agencies to respond to antisemitic conduct.
- Examining the circumstances surrounding the antisemitic Bondi terrorist attack on 14 December 2025.
- Making any other recommendations arising out of the inquiry for strengthening social cohesion in Australia and countering the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism in Australia.
To ensure this is a truly national Royal Commission, all States and Territories will be asked to join the Commission.
Member for New England Barnaby Joyce posted one of his trademark Latin-spiked comments on Facebook that the Royal Commission was “obvious” and his desires for broader terms of reference.
“It was so obvious, he had rightly no choice and has been dragged kicking and screaming to something he could have done weeks ago and received the laurels rather than the opprobrium of his obvious latent unwillingness,” he wrote.
Nationals MP for Parkes Jamie Chaffey also commented disapprovingly of new gun restrictions and the need to focus on Islamic extremism.
“There is no place for such hatred in our community. Antisemitism and violent Islamic extremism must be confronted: there is no room to be weak on this issue, and we cannot allow this to grow.”
“New gun laws passed by the NSW Labor Government are an attempt to divert attention or discussion from the reality that what we are dealing with here primarily is antisemitism,” he said.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the royal commission needed to examine the decision making within the government.
“Ministers (need to) be called to account,” she told ABC TV on Friday.
“The executive of government needs to answer – effectively in the dock – what warnings were given, what warnings were ignored, what action was taken or maybe not taken.
“If Anthony Albanese had been as determined to tackle anti-Semitism over the last three years as he was to avoid this royal commission over the last three weeks, I think we would be in a better position today.”
The Prime Minister said the decision on who would testify at the inquiry would be left with the Royal Commissioner.
Calls for the fully-blown national probe have dramatically escalated over the last fortnight.
Mr Albanese initially preferred an independent inquiry led by former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson, insisting this was recommended by “the actual experts”.
On Friday morning he said the royal commission was announced “in record time”, with the previous days spent listening to communities.
“The last funeral was just two days ago, and so I have listened. We’ve made sure that we’ve got it right as well,” he told Seven’s Sunrise.
“We needed to get the right commissioner, the right terms of reference in the right time frame, because we can’t afford to not get this right. It’s essential for bringing the nation together in national unity and building social cohesion.”
The choice of Ms Bell as commissioner had prompted disquiet among some members of the Jewish community because of her previous rulings on protest laws.
Among those to query the choice was former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg, previously the coalition’s most senior Jewish MP.
On Friday morning, Mr Frydenberg said Ms Bell would be supported as the royal commission “needed to be successful”.
“Now that Virginia Bell has been appointed, the Jewish community will get behind her, provide all the evidence, provide the testimony, in order to get the best recommendations, the most practical road map to take our country forward,” he told ABC TV.
“The Jewish community wants to have trust and confidence in the person at the helm of this royal commission. That’s the most important thing.
“We’re all heavily invested in making this royal commission a success.”
University of New South Wales associate law and justice professor Harry Hobbs said there had been more than 140 royal commissions in Australia’s history, and the research was clear about what kinds of recommendations were most likely to be implemented.
“Generally speaking, you want recommendations that are practical and affordable and simple … because those things are more likely to be accepted,” he told AAP.
“If they are complex and costly and difficult and contested, then they are less likely to be implemented.”
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