Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack after facing mounting political and community pressure.
Key Takeaways
- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has green lit a Royal Commission into anti-Semitism following the Bondi terror attack on December 15.
- It follows weeks of mounting pressure from politicians and community members.
- Former High Court Justice Virginia Bell will serve as the Commissioner, though that decision has faced backlash from some members of the Jewish Community, as well as former treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
What we know
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a press conference in Canberra on Thursday afternoon, announcing that he will be recommending to the Governor-General in an Executive Council meeting tomorrow that a Royal Commission on anti-Semitism and social cohesion be established.
Crucial quote
“I’ve repeatedly said that our government’s priority is to promote unity and social cohesion, and this is what Australia needs to heal, to learn, to come together in a spirit of national unity and to go forward knowing that just like people who gathered that night on Bondi Beach were committing to that light will prevail over darkness.”
Key background
The Royal Commission comes after 16 people died in a terrorist attack that targeted Jewish Hannukah celebrations on Bondi Beach in December. The two gunmen were identified as father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram.
“This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Chanukah,” Albanese said at the time. “An attack on Jewish Australians is an attack on every Australian.” He said there was “no place for this hate, violence and terrorism in our nation” and told the Jewish community, “we stand with you”.
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