Anthony Albanese has not ruled out calling a federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack amid mounting pressure for a Commonwealth-level inquiry.
The prime minister was touring flood-ravaged north Queensland on Tuesday when he was asked if he remained open to the option and said he was talking with NSW to ensure the state had “everything that is required”.
“The NSW government have said that they will have a royal commission, but we’re talking to NSW about how that would operate, and we’re talking to the community,” Mr Albanese said.
Mr Albanese has so far resisted the push for a federal royal commission into the Bondi mass shooting, where 15 people were killed in an alleged ISIS-inspired attack targeting a Hanukkah event last month.
He said his first priority was the “immediate needs” of a review of intelligence and security agencies and their response to the Bondi attack, being led by former spy boss Dennis Richardson.
Fifteen people died when gunmen opened fire on a Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach in December. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)
He said “priority two” was recalling parliament once new legislation cracking down on hate speech and tightening gun laws had been finalised.
But he also said he was “talking and meeting with people on a daily basis” about what further responses were needed.
Mr Albanese said he wanted to consult on proposed changes to hate speech and gun laws before recalling parliament early.
“Some of those consultations will take place over coming days to make sure we get this legislation right,” he said.
Mr Albanese rejected the opposition’s claims he could have recalled parliament and passed the “complex” law changes in a “matter of days” after the attack.
“That is not right,” he said.
“I met with Sussan Ley, leader of the opposition, yesterday, constructively consulting her about processes going forward as well.”
MPs aren’t due to return to Canberra until February, but it is widely expected they will be summoned in the next fortnight to pass the new laws and take part in a condolence motion for the victims of Bondi.
One Labor source said prominent figures were making private appeals to Mr Albanese about holding a royal commission, alongside the growing public calls from sporting, legal and business leaders.
Mr Albanese has repeatedly indicated his priorities are the Richardson review and passing proposed hate speech and gun control reforms, while he has offered Commonwealth “cooperation” with NSW for its royal commission.
But sources familiar with the thinking at senior levels of the Albanese government believe there remained an openness from the prime minister about also looking at a federal royal commission.
Former Labor MP urges ‘rolling’ inquiry into Bondi attack
This week a group of former Labor MPs, senators and party officials released an open letter calling for a national royal commission, citing concerns a NSW-run probe would not have sufficient power to compel evidence and legally protect witnesses.
Mike Kelly, pictured here on his feet in Parliament in 2018, says the country needs to take time to fix its security. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Former federal minister and president of the Labor Israel Action Committee, Mike Kelly, said a royal commission could be “rolling” and “iterative,” releasing interim reports and recommendations rather than taking years to finalise.
“The flexibility that’s built into that is enormous, and it’s just ridiculous to say that this would take too much time,” he said.
“We need to take all the time. We need to sort our security out, given that this was the worst terrorism action on Australian soil in our history.”
Mr Kelly told the ABC a royal commission would tackle the broader issues around the “health of our democracy,” such as the impact of hate and division spread via social media.
Labor figures urge Albanese to call Bondi federal royal commission
He said it would also be able to examine Australia’s counterterrorism capability and posture, and help with the “healing” of the Jewish community and nation.
“This is an important intangible factor that we need, as politicians, to take into account here,” he said.
“And in that respect, we’re hearing the voice of Australia, and the government’s got to show that it doesn’t have a tin ear.”
Mr Kelly blamed a “defensive” mindset inside government for the ongoing resistance to a royal commission, but was confident that as Labor MPs heard from their communities, that would shift.