The federal government is preparing to accept all available recommendations made by the royal commission into the terror attack at Bondi Beach. The attack on a Channukah by the Sea event at North Bondi on December 14 killed 15 innocent people and injured a further 39. Shooter Sajid Akram was killed by police while his son and alleged co-offender Naveed was also injured.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “Our nation was shattered by an act which was evil, an antisemitic terrorist attack shook the nation. Five months on from the attack, Australia’s Jewish community is still grieving, still hurting, still craving answers.”
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was launched in the wake of the attack and released its first interim report on Thursday. The report made 14 recommendations concerning firearm reforms and counter-terrorism capabilities at a national and state level, but only nine have been made available to the public.
Albanese revealed the National Security Committee met soon after the report was produced and has “adopted all the recommendations that are relevant to the Commonwealth”. The Prime Minister has backed all recommendations made by the royal commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The attack killed 15 people at the Channukah by the Sea event at North Bondi on December 14. “While Commissioner Bell found Australia’s existing legal and regulatory frameworks did not hinder agencies’ ability to prevent or respond to the Bondi attack, and that no urgent or immediate action is required, the recommendations go to enhancing our national counter-terrorism arrangements and capabilities,” he said.
Other recommendations, such as increased support for nation-wide gun reform laws, would have to be accepted by each state and territory. “I again would reiterate a constructive call for states and territories to work with the Commonwealth,” Albanese said. “We’ve put in place the legislation and indeed the financing is there to achieve an outcome which is consistent with the recommendations from the royal commission.”
A full interim report is expected to be released to the federal and state governments later this year, but will be redacted when released to the public as it includes “national security and the need to avoid prejudice to current criminal proceedings”.
