\u201cIs the prime minister hiding behind a smoke screen? Is he using national security as a political shield? Australians deserve straight answers. Does this advice exist? What is the prime minister hiding,\u201d Ley said.<\/p>\n
The Richardson review sits alongside other federal measures announced in response to the Bondi attack including a pledge to strengthen hate speech legislation, tougher gun import laws and a national buyback scheme. Albanese also pledged to adopt many \u2013 but not all \u2013 of the recommendations Australia\u2019s special envoy to combat antisemitism, Jillian Segal, submitted to the government six months ago.<\/p>\n
The review is charged with analysing the effectiveness, powers and processes of security and law enforcement agencies, as well as the information known about the attackers before December 14. However, the terms of reference do not address antisemitism or violent extremism.<\/p>\n
Richardson inquiry\u2019s terms of reference<\/p>\n
Dennis Richardson, former ASIO chief and secretary of defence and foreign affairs departments, will report in April on whether ASIO and the Australian Federal Police did all they could in the context of the Bondi terrorist attack and if information sharing between agencies was adequate. The review will examine<\/p>\n
Peter Wertheim, co-head of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the review\u2019s terms of reference were \u201ctoo narrowly focused\u201d on intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and omitted the \u201cwider context in which those agencies operate\u201d.<\/p>\n
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\u201cTo get to the heart of the matter there needs to be an honest examination of government policies and the conduct and policies of key institutions and figures in major sectors of our society. Their contribution to the unprecedented levels of antisemitism in this country over the last two years must be addressed,\u201d he said, arguing that the proposed royal commission was the only way to tackle the issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat might emerge could indeed be divisive and ugly but the divisiveness and ugliness is already there. Confronting these demons will be cathartic. It\u2019s our only hope of establishing a new national consensus and setting clear standards.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeremy Leibler, the president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said the terms of reference not mentioning antisemitism or Jewish Australians was \u201cindefensible\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problem with the federal government establishing only the Richardson review and not a royal commission is that Richardson is directed only to look at the security agencies response, and not at all on any of the underlying root causes of the problems of antisemitism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Under questioning on Monday about the omission of the word \u201cantisemitism\u201d from the review\u2019s terms of reference, Albanese said: \u201cthe whole framework is about that\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will look at a comprehensive examination of what occurred, if there are any gaps, if there are any gaps between the Commonwealth and New South Wales as well, what response is required thoroughly, practically and efficiently reporting in months, not years ahead, acting with unity and urgency, not division and delay,\u201d Albanese said.<\/p>\n
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Industry Minister Tim Ayres on Wednesday said the review would be \u201cmore far-reaching\u201d than a royal commission, which he said would \u201cbe a symbolic approach about division and delay, rather than an approach that is about getting practical responses right now\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Richardson report will report in a few months, not in a few years. It will deliver a broad and effective and pragmatic assessment of what is required from Australia\u2019s security agencies to strengthen our overall response and harden Australia\u2019s capability to deal with these kinds of terrorist attacks,\u201d Ayres told Sky News.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday 16 December, Jewish organisations including the Australian Union of Jewish Students and the Rabbinical Council of Australia penned an open letter demanding a federal royal commission. It comes after similar letters were published from 17 victim\u2019s families and 210 senior members of the Australian bar.<\/p>\n
Bondi Beach incident helplines:<\/p>\n