August M
Australia’s prime minister has confirmed a royal commission into a mass shooting that left the country shaken and reignited debate over antisemitism, public safety and national cohesion.
The move follows weeks of public pressure and marks a shift from the government’s initial response to the attack.
Inquiry leadership
Former High Court justice Virginia Bell will chair the royal commission, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in Canberra.
He said Bell had been asked to deliver her findings by December 2026, stressing that the inquiry would be focused and not allowed to stretch on indefinitely. “This royal commission is the right format, the right duration and the right terms of reference to deliver the right outcome for our national unity and our national security,” Albanese said.
Her appointment had prompted unease among some Jewish leaders before the announcement. Attorney General Michelle Rowland defended the choice, describing Bell as “an eminent and highly capable former Justice of the High Court of Australia”.
What happened
The inquiry follows a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach that targeted a Jewish festival and killed 15 people, making it one of the worst attacks in Australia’s history, according to the BBC.
In the immediate aftermath, Albanese argued that urgent reforms, including changes to gun ownership, hate speech laws and reviews of intelligence and policing agencies, offered the fastest response.
Those measures have continued alongside the decision to launch a royal commission.
Why now
Albanese said he changed course after reflecting on the attack and holding discussions with members of the Jewish community.
“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,” he said.
“It’s clear to me that a royal commission is essential to achieving this.”
Families of victims, along with prominent lawyers, business figures and athletes, had pressed almost daily for the government to establish a royal commission.
Scope and powers
Royal commissions have sweeping authority, including the power to summon witnesses, compel agencies to hand over documents and provide legal protections to whistleblowers.
Albanese said the inquiry would examine the nature and drivers of antisemitism in Australia, review the response of law enforcement and security agencies, scrutinise the circumstances of the Bondi attack and make broader recommendations to strengthen social cohesion and counter extremism.
An existing review led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson will be absorbed into the commission, with an interim report expected in April.
Beyond the inquiry
The prime minister said the commission would not interfere with criminal proceedings against the alleged gunman, who survived the attack.
He also emphasised that the inquiry was not intended to “provide a solution on Gaza or on the Middle East”, adding that Jewish Australians had been unfairly held responsible for actions or views unrelated to them.
Alongside the inquiry, federal and state leaders have agreed to tighten gun laws and advance hate speech reforms. Antisemitism commissioner Jillian Segal welcomed the announcement, saying it reflected “the seriousness of the growth in antisemitism and its impact on our country and our democracy”.
Sources: BBC
