Families of Bondi Beach mass shooting victims call for a federal royal commission into Australia’s rise in antisemitism and alleged security failures
SYDNEY: Families of victims killed in the Bondi Beach mass shooting have called for an independent national inquiry into antisemitism in Australia.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, they also demanded an examination of alleged failures in policing, intelligence and policy that enabled the attack.
Seventeen families urged the prime minister to “immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the rapid rise of antisemitism in Australia”.
They said the inquiry must examine “law enforcement, intelligence, and policy failures that led to the Bondi Beach massacre”.
“We demand answers and solutions,” the families wrote.
“We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked.”
Albanese has resisted calls for a federal inquiry, citing a need for urgent action rather than waiting “years for answers”.
“I have nothing except sympathy for those families,” he told reporters.
“My job, as prime minister, is to look at how we build unity, how we build social cohesion.”
Albanese said last week that a New South Wales-led royal commission would suffice and promised full support.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warned a national royal commission could give “some of the worst statements and worst voices” a platform.
He said this was not in the interest of unity or national security.
But the families said the federal government’s response is “not nearly enough”.
“You owe us answers. You owe us accountability. And you owe Australians the truth,” their letter stated.
The families described the rise of antisemitism as a “national crisis”, adding the “threat was not going away”.
Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah event on December 14.
Authorities have described the attack, which killed 15 people and wounded dozens, as an antisemitic terrorist act.
Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the attack.
His 24-year-old son Naveed remains in custody facing multiple charges, including terrorism and 15 murders.
He has yet to enter a plea.
