Bondi Attack: Royal Commission’s First Move

Key points:

The recommendations were based on “analysis of material” from Australian national security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Some recommendations are confidential, but others have been made public.
“It is important that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have timely access to accurate firearms data, to improve the chances of detecting terrorist attacks before they occur,” Commissioner Bell said.
“Upon review of classified material, the commission has observed … the proportion of funding allocated to counter-terrorism significantly declined across the [national intelligence community] over the period from 2020 to 2025.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would implement all recommendations.

In the lead-up to the first hearing of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion on May 4, Commissioner Virginia Bell released an Interim Report, which included the recommendations.

The report was released now, “to enable Commonwealth, state and territory governments to ascertain if there are any matters – particularly those affecting public safety and national security – that require urgent or immediate action,” wrote Commissioner Bell, a former Justice of the High Court.

The report was presented to the Governor-General Sam Mostyn, and the State Governors on Thursday.

The recommendations were based on “analysis of material” from Australian national security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Some recommendations are confidential, but others have been made public.

“Terrorist attack likely”

The first recommendation in the report states:

The procedures adopted by NSW Police in respect to Operation Jewish High Holy Days should apply to other high risk Jewish festivals and events, particularly those that have a public facing element.

As revealed in the report, before the December 14 Antisemitic mass-shooting at a Chanukah event at Bondi Beach, the Jewish organisation, Community Security Group (CSG), warned NSW Police that the likelihood of an attack was “high”.

“A terrorist attack against the NSW Jewish community is likely and there is a high level of antisemitic vilification,” warned the CSG, as cited in the report.

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NSW Police sent “ a car crew or two” to the event, directing officers that there was “no need” for any police to stay the entire duration.

During the event, gunmen opened fire on the crowd, murdering 15 people, and injuring at least 39. One gunman was shot dead by police at the scene; his son, who was also shot but survived, is on multiple murder charges.

In the aftermath of the Bondi attack, there were widespread calls to update and tighten Australia’s gun control laws.

Gun control

In the aftermath of the Bondi attack, there were widespread calls to update and tighten Australia’s gun control laws.

Though Australia has some of the toughest gun laws in the world (in the wake of 1996’s Port Arthur massacre in which 35 people were murdered), the alleged perpetrators of the Bondi attack had legally acquired their weapons.

The report recommends:

The Commonwealth and states and territories should prioritise efforts to finalise and implement an updated and nationally consistent National Firearms Agreement and National Gun Buyback Scheme.

“It is important that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have timely access to accurate firearms data, to improve the chances of detecting terrorist attacks before they occur,” Commissioner Bell said.

“Our inquiry revealed some respects in which counter-terrorism capability at Commonwealth and state levels might be improved,” said Commissioner Bell.

“Everything necessary”

The other non-confidential recommendations in the report are related to counter-terrorism (for the full list, see below).

“Our inquiry revealed some respects in which counter-terrorism capability at Commonwealth and state levels might be improved,” said Commissioner Bell.

“Upon review of classified material, the commission has observed … the proportion of funding allocated to counter-terrorism significantly declined across the [national intelligence community] over the period from 2020 to 2025.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would implement all recommendations.

“Five months on from the attack, Australia’s Jewish community is still grieving, still hurting, still craving answers,” the Prime Minister said on Thursday.

“I can confirm that the National Security Committee has met this morning and we have adopted and will implement all the recommendations of the Interim Report that are relevant to the Commonwealth.

“I can assure the Australian public that the government will do everything necessary to protect the community in the wake of the Bondi attack.”

Counter-terrorism

Here are the counter-terrorism recommendations in full:

The Australian Government should consider whether National Security Committee ministers, including the Prime Minister, should participate in a counter-terrorism exercise, along with all National Cabinet members, within nine months of each federal election.

Consideration given to making the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator’s role full-time.

The Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee should provide direct advice in the form of a written and/or oral briefing, at least annually, to National Cabinet.

The Counter-Terrorism Handbook should be updated promptly and then at least every three years in coordination with updates to the Counter-Terrorism Plan and the ANZCTC triennial review.

The ANZCTC should provide direct advice in the form of a written and/or oral briefing, at least annually, to National Cabinet (including, as appropriate, advice on ANZCTC activities, the use of the ANZCTC Special Fund, and national counter-terrorism challenges and priorities).

The ANZCTC should commission a review of the Joint Counter-Terrorism Teams, with a report to be submitted to Police Commissioners and the Director-General of Security within three months of commencement. The review should include consideration of leadership structures, team integration, systems access and information sharing arrangements. The review should place particular focus on the Joint Counter Terrorism Team-NSW, elements of which should be for reporting specifically to the NSW Police Commissioner, the AFP Commissioner and the Director-General of Security.

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Mike Crooks

Michael Crooks is a senior journalist with more than 15 yearsí experience in magazine reporting, writing and editing, and more than 5 years’ experience in digital content production. He is a former news editor of Who magazine and his work has appeared in People, Marie Claire, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, news.com.au, Qantas magazine and more.