The grieving families of those killed in the Bondi Beach attack are issuing a powerful demand to the federal government: establish a royal commission to investigate the rapid rise of antisemitism across Australia.
A National Crisis Demanding Answers
In a stark statement released overnight, the group representing the victims' loved ones declared that political leaders must finally listen to those directly impacted by the tragedy. "You owe us answers, you owe us accountability, and you owe Australians the truth," their warning reads. They have criticised the Albanese government for failing to adequately address what they describe as a national crisis, insisting that the situation requires a powerful and coordinated national response.
Shaina Goodnick, whose father Reuven Morrison was murdered while heroically trying to stop the attacker at Westfield Bondi Junction, stressed the critical need to speak out. She detailed the profound loss suffered by so many families.
"My father was murdered, leaving behind his wife, daughter, grandchildren. Matilda was murdered. Ellie Schlenger was murdered, leaving behind five children, a six-week-old baby," Ms Goodnick told Sunrise. "So many families completely ripped apart, grandparents, parents, children, just taken from their families. This is something that impacts all of us here in Australia."
Growing Support for a Formal Inquiry
Ms Goodnick emphasised that the horrific attack did not occur in isolation. She described it as the violent culmination of a problem that has been "growing and festering here in Australia for two and a half years now." The call for a royal commission is gaining significant momentum, attracting support from a coalition of high-profile Australians.
Key backers now include:
- Sir Peter Cosgrove, former Governor-General
- A former Australian Federal Police Commissioner
- Former High Court judges
- Prominent lawyers and legal experts
- Federal Labor MPs who have broken party ranks to endorse the move
Prime Minister's Hesitancy Met with Resolve
When questioned about Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's reluctance to call a royal commission, citing concerns over the lengthy timeframes such investigations can entail, Ms Goodnick was unwavering. "However long it takes," she stated firmly. She pointed out that past royal commissions have varied in duration, from the 10-month Robodebt inquiry to the two-year aged care investigation, with some taking up to five years to complete.
The families' powerful open letter was featured on the front pages of major newspapers nationwide, a strategic move aimed at compelling the government to take decisive action. "We need answers. We need to understand how this occurred, and we need to ensure that this cannot happen again," Ms Goodnick asserted. "Lives were lost, and we need to ensure that no more will be." The collective message from the families is clear: only a thorough, independent royal commission can provide the transparency and accountability needed to confront Australia's antisemitism crisis.
