Following 2+ years of antisemitism culminating in Australia’s worst terror attack in history at Bondi Beach, prominent and ordinary Australians across all sides of the political spectrum called for a Federal Royal Commission into antisemitism in Australia and the events leading up to the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The only thing standing in the way was the Australian government. On 8 January 2026, following intense public pressure, they relented.
The Australians calling for a Federal Royal Commission into Antisemitism
Legal establishment
More than 230 silks, former Judges and a former Attorney General have signed an open letter calling for a Federal Royal Commission into Antisemitism in Australia.
Click here to see the letter and the signatories.
The Law Council of Australia, the peak national representative body of the Australian legal profession representing more than 110,000 lawyers, has also issued its own call - click here to read.
Business Leaders and Industry Groups
More than 120 Australian business and university leaders including James Packer, David Thodey, Glenn Stevens and Philip Lowe, signed an open letter calling for a federal royal commission into antisemitism and the events leading up to the Bondi massacre. Click here to see the letter and signatories.
Nine of Australia’s peak industry bodies, representing millons of working Australians and thousands of businesses, issued a joint statement. Click here to see the letter and signatories.
32 National Security and Defence Leaders
32 former senior Australian national security and defence leaders have signed an open letter calling for a Federal Royal Commission into antisemitism and Islamic extremism in Australia.
Click here to see the letter and the signatories.
Current and Former Politicians
Australia’s former Treasurer, Hon. Josh Frydenberg, has led calls for this Royal Commission, as well as the Coalition and Tim Wilson, One Nation, and a number of Teals and Independents.
Current Labor MPs Mike Freelander and Ed Husic, and numerous former Labor MPs, have also joined the call.
Former Prime Ministers John Howard and Scott Morrison, former State Premiers Jeff Kennett and Peter Beattie, and former Defence Force Chief and Governor General, Peter Cosgrove, and former intelligence chief, Nick Warner, all support the call through various letters and the media.
Health and Research Sector
More than 1,000 leaders in the health and research sector have called for aCommonwealth Royal Commission to examine the events leading up to the Bondi massacre and the broader conditions in which it occurred.
Click here to see the letter.
Australian sporting champions
62 Australian sporting champions have signed an open letter calling for a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism, radicalisation and the events leading up to the Bondi massacre.
Click here to see the letter and the signatories.
Families of Terror Victims
The families of the victims of the antisemitic Bondi Beach terror attack, and the family of Katrina Dawson, who was killed in the Lindt Cafe terror attack, have called for a Federal Royal Commission into antisemitism in Australia.
Grassroots initiatives
There are a number of grassroots petitions circulating calling for a federal royal commission into antisemitism and the Bondi terror attack. One petition has more than 84,000 signatories, while another group called Bondi Response managed to attract more than 3,000 signatures in 24 hours and raise more than $250,000 to publish its open letter across major media outlets. Meanwhile, a petition calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister has garnered more than 375,000 signatures.
Religious & Community Orgs
25 Jewish communal organisations via multiple joint statements, 50 major cultural and faith organisations, the Australian Hindu Association, and more than 360 Christian leaders have also made the call, via separate statements.
In the Media
There have been hundreds of articles published in the Australian press related to the calls for a Federal Royal Commission into antisemitism and the events leading up to the Bondi Beach terror attack. These will be added over coming days.
The public calls
Josh Frydenberg calls for Government accountability
Senior Barristers and Former Judges
We write as former judges and senior barristers with different religious and political beliefs, united by our commitment to Australian democratic values, the rule of law and deep concern about the state of antisemitism in Australia.
Antisemitism is promulgated openly, not only by extremists and hate preachers, but also in a disturbing and increasingly normalised manner online, on social media, and in our institutions including universities.
As a result of this growth in antisemitic ideology, Jewish places of worship and businesses have been the subject of arson attacks; a Jewish MP’s office and Jewish residences have been vandalised; large numbers of Jewish university students have stopped attending campus out of fear; Jewish schoolchildren enter and leave their schools under armed guard; Jewish businesses have closed down under pressure; and, predictably, these events culminated in the tragedy on Bondi Beach.
For these reasons, we call on the Federal Government to announce a Federal Royal Commission into Antisemitism in Australia.
Why a federal royal commission is necessary
Antisemitism in Australia is inherently a national issue. While the Bondi Beach tragedy occurred in Sydney, it resulted from a problem that requires a response from the Commonwealth Government. Antisemitism is not only a New South Wales problem. It is an Australian problem.
Radicalisation pathways, funding streams, online platforms, intelligence collection, border control, telecommunications regulation, and counter-terrorism laws all fall substantially within Commonwealth responsibility. Commonwealth agencies have the ability to examine the full national picture and play a critical role in identifying, detecting and combating extremism.
A federal royal commission is uniquely placed to:
• address nationwide issues, such as the role of both new and traditional media in the spread of antisemitism and its proliferation on university campuses;
• examine the interaction between Commonwealth and state institutions;
• assess the adequacy of national counter-extremism frameworks;
• investigate systemic gaps or weaknesses across jurisdictions; and
• make recommendations capable of consistent national implementation.
Without a federal remit, any inquiry risks producing findings that are necessarily partial and that do not fully reflect the scale, complexity, or interconnected nature of the problem.
Independence and public confidence
We are aware that the Government has announced a review into intelligence agencies to be conducted within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. While internal and departmental reviews serve an important function, such processes cannot perform the role of a royal commission nor serve the public interest in the same way.
A departmental review does not offer the same degree of independence, transparency, or public authority as a royal commission established under statute. Where a review is conducted within the executive branch and reports to it, perceptions of institutional self-assessment may arise, irrespective of the integrity or professionalism of those conducting the review.
A royal commission, by contrast:
• is institutionally independent of government;
• has coercive powers to compel witnesses and documents;
• can receive evidence, including in public where appropriate, subject to necessary security protections;
• provides a forum in which affected communities and subject-matter experts may be heard; and
• produces findings that carry enduring public legitimacy.
Antisemitism thrives in conditions of mistrust, secrecy, and misinformation. Public confidence in the integrity of Australia’s response is therefore not incidental; it is essential.
Not a partisan issue
The protection of Australians from antisemitism is not a political issue. It is a moral one and goes to the very heart of a government’s fundamental role to protect its citizens. The signatories to this letter hold differing views on many matters of public policy. What unites us is a professional and civic concern that Australia confront extremism with seriousness, transparency, and constitutional propriety.
A federal royal commission, properly constituted and with appropriate terms of reference, would be a constructive exercise in national self-examination, strengthening Australia’s legal and democratic resilience.
Our call
We respectfully urge the Federal Government to:
1. announce the establishment of a Federal Royal Commission into Antisemitism in Australia; and
2. ensure its terms of reference are sufficiently broad to examine systemic, legal, institutional, and inter-jurisdictional issues.
The gravity of the challenge demands nothing less.
The signatories:
The Hon. Alan R. Abadee AM RFD KC, Neil Adams SC, Daniel Aghion KC, The Hon. James Allsop AC, The Hon. Peter W. Almond KC, The Hon. Paul Anastassiou KC, Roisin Annesley KC, Farid Assaf SC, James Barber KC, Darrell Barnett SC, Lyndelle Barnett SC, David Batt KC, David Bayly SC, Justine Beaumont SC, Nicholas Bender SC, David Bennett AC KC, The Hon. P. A. Bergin AO SC, Christopher Blanden KC, David Bloom KC, Daniel Bongiorno SC, Michael Borsky KC, Justin Bourke KC, The Hon. George Brandis KC, Robin Brett KC, Victoria Brigden SC, Michelle Britbart KC, Christopher Brown KC, Liam Brown SC, David Brustman KC, Simon Buchen SC, The Hon. David Byrne KC, Christopher Caleo KC, Andrew Cameron SC, Douglas Campbell KC, Christopher Canavan KC, Peter Chadwick KC, Elizabeth Collins SC, Matt Collins AM KC, Peter Collinson KC, Charles Colquhoun SC, Miles Condon SC, Paul Connor KC, Tom Cordiner KC, Mark Costello KC, Gabi Crafti SC, Daniel Crennan KC, Philip Crutchfield KC, The Hon. Elizabeth Curtain AM, Richard Dalton KC, Matthew J. Darke SC, Joanna Davidson SC, Greg Davies KC, Andrew de Wijn SC, John de Wijn AM KC, Kristen Deards SC, Brahma Dharmananda SC, The Hon. Julie Dodds-Streeton KC, Richard Douglas KC, Cathy Dowsett SC, Patrick Doyle SC, Philip Dunn KC, Peter Dunning KC, Paul Edgar SC, David Edwardson KC, Paul L. Ehrlich KC, Lindsay Ellison SC, Her Honour Sylvia Emmett AM, Jacob I. Fajgenbaum KC, Don Farrands KC, Danny Feller SC, Marc Felman KC, Nicholas Ferrett KC, Steven Finch SC, The Hon. Raymond Finkelstein AO KC, Simon Fitzpatrick SC, Michael Fleming KC, Kathleen Foley SC, Marita Foley SC, Alexanra Folie SC, Ross Foreman SC, Fiona Forsyth KC, Michael Galvin KC, Joseph Garas SC, John Garnsey KC, Graham Gibson KC, Ross Gillies KC, Shaun Ginsbourg SC, Jeffery Gleeson KC, Catherine Gleeson SC, Jeremy Gobbo KC, Steven Golledge SC, Colin Golvan AM KC, Justin Graham KC, Michael Green SC, Dean Guidolin KC, Chris Gunson SC, John Gurr KC, Tim Hammond SC, Ian Hanger AM KC, Peter Hanks KC, Matthew Harding, Wendy Harris KC, Richard J. Harris SC, Matthew Harvey KC, Robert Hay KC, Paul J. Hayes KC, Robert Heath KC, Michael Henry SC, Adam Hochroth SC, Michael Hodge KC, Mark Hoffman KC, Justin Hogan-Doran SC, Nick Hopkins KC, Sam Hopper SC, Anne Horvath SC, Christopher Hughes KC, Philip Jackson SC, The Hon. P. M. Jacobson KC, Julianne Jaques KC, His Honour David Jones AM, Peter Jopling AM KC, Bill Keane SC, Siobhan Kelly SC, The Hon. Betty King KC, Jonathan Kirkwood SC, Patrick Knowles SC, The Hon. Bruce Lander KC, John G. Larkins KC, Jason Lazarus SC, Kim Lendich SC, Paul Liondas KC, Anthony Lo Surdo SC, Kane Loxley SC, William Lye OAM KC, Stewart Maiden KC, The Hon. Philip Mandie KC, Simon E. Marks KC, Peter Matthews SC, Zoe Maud SC, Andrew McClelland KC, The Hon. Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC, Peter McEwen SC, Daniel McInerney KC, Greg McIntyre SC, The Hon. Neil McKerracher KC, Julian McMahon AC SC, The Hon. Ron Merkel SC, Luke Merrick KC, Heather Millar SC, Travis Mitchell KC, Kate Morgan SC, Amy Munro SC, Rishi Nathwani KC, Ian Neil SC, Glenn Newton KC, Peter Newton SC, Gerald Ng SC, Maree Norton SC, Chris O’Grady KC, Robert O’Neill SC, The Hon. Donna O’Reilly KC, Jeff Otto KC, The Hon. George Palmer AM KC, Nick Pane KC, Anthony Papamatheos SC, Frank Parry KC, The Hon. John Pascoe AC CVO, Tom Percy KC, Marcus Pesman SC, James W. S. Peters AM KC, Jason Pizer SC, Emily Porter SC, Mark Rapley SC, The Hon. Steven Rares KC, The Hon. Robert Redlich AO KC, Garry Rich SC, Mark Robins KC, The Hon. R. McK. Robson KC, Sam Rosewarne KC, His Honour Michael Rozenes AO KC, The Hon. Jack Rush AO RFD KC, Clinton Russell SC, Fiona Ryan SC, The Hon. Ronald Sackville AO KC, Paul D. Santamaria KC, J. G. Santamaria, Meredith Schilling SC, Georgina L. Schoff KC, Martin Scott KC, Naomi Sharp SC, Stephen Sharpley KC, John Sheahan KC, Jeffrey L. Sher KC, Gavin Silbert KC, Michael J. Sims SC, Philip Solomon KC, Fiona Spencer KC, The Hon. James Spigelman AC KC, Dan Star KC, Jeremy Stoljar SC, Anthony Strahan KC, The Hon. John Sulan KC, Melanie Szydzik SC, Sam Tatarka OAM, Ian Temby AO KC, David Thomas SC, Megan Tittensor SC, Terence Tobin KC, Justin Tomlinson SC, Jack Tracey KC, Roger Traves KC, Mark Trowell KC, Jeremy Twigg KC, John Walker KC, Tim Walker KC, Peter Wallis KC, The Hon. Mark Weinberg AC KC, David Weinberger SC, Eugene Wheelahan KC, Patrick Wheelahan KC, The Hon. Margaret White AO, Matthew White SC, Michael White OAM KC, Daryl J. Williams AM KC, Justin Williams SC, Peter Willis SC, Simon Wilson KC, Christopher Withers SC, Patricia (Patsy) Wolfe AO, Tiffany Wong SC, Stuart Wood AM KC, Andrew Woods SC, Pat Zappia KC, W. Brind Zichy-Woinarski KC
The Law Council of Australia
The Law Council of Australia exists to uphold the rule of law and to promote confidence in Australia’s legal system. That role is inseparable from the values that underpin a cohesive democratic society, including equality before the law, mutual respect and shared civic life. Racism, hatred, intolerance or extremist ideologies have no place in Australia and stand in direct opposition to the principles that underpin our legal system and our profession.
The Law Council of Australia, as the national representative body of the Australian legal profession, is deeply concerned by the significant rise in antisemitism in Australia and the damaging effect this has had on community safety, social cohesion and trust in public institutions.
The horrific terror attack targeted at the Jewish community at Bondi has brought into sharp focus the consequences of hatred and radicalisation. It also underscores the need to examine the adequacy of existing responses and for a nationally coordinated response to match the seriousness of the challenge.
Public confidence in Australia’s legal system depends on the law operating effectively to protect all members of the community from harm, intimidation and violence. When any group is targeted on the basis of identity or belief, the legitimacy of the legal system as a whole is undermined.
In the Law Council’s view, the nature and scale of the issues exposed by the Bondi terror attack require and justify the establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism in Australia and the events leading up to that attack. While the tragedy occurred in one State, the factors that shape the spread of extremist ideology, pathways to radicalisation, and the effectiveness of preventative frameworks operate across jurisdictional boundaries and engage significant Commonwealth responsibilities.
These are Federal and Commonwealth matters. Matters including national security coordination, intelligence-sharing arrangements, communications and online regulation, hate speech legislation and counter-terrorism laws require examination at a Federal level and in a way that considers how legal and institutional systems operate together across Australia. Jurisdictionally limited inquiries cannot provide a complete or coherent account of these interconnected systems.
A Commonwealth Royal Commission provides the only mechanism capable of examining these issues in a manner that is rigorous, evidence-based and insulated from the pressures of short-term political debate. A process limited by jurisdiction, or conducted solely within the executive branch, cannot provide the necessary breadth of inquiry or public assurance required in these circumstances.
A Royal Commission offers an independent, statutory mechanism capable of examining complex and interconnected issues, testing evidence, and hearing from affected persons, communities and experts. Its public authority and procedural safeguards provide an important foundation for restoring trust and confidence, both in the legal system and in the institutions charged with protecting the community.
Royal Commissions are also extraordinary instruments of inquiry. They operate outside ordinary investigative and adjudicative processes and are vested with significant coercive powers, including powers that may compel the production of information, require compulsory examination, and limit or displace usual legal rights and privileges. Their use represents a deliberate departure from the ordinary safeguards that characterise Australia’s legal system and therefore demands a high degree of restraint. For that reason, Royal Commissions are appropriate only in the most exceptional circumstances.
The Bondi terrorist attack—the deadliest act of terrorism on Australian soil—meets that threshold. The scale of the loss of life, the broader context in which the attack occurred, and its profound implications for community safety, social cohesion and confidence in our legal system demand an inquiry of the highest order.
The Law Council also emphasises that a properly constituted Royal Commission plays an important role in ensuring that responses to serious threats are considered, proportionate and consistent with the rule of law. By examining competing rights and interests, and by testing the necessity and effectiveness of legal and institutional responses, a Royal Commission can help ensure that measures adopted in response to crises protect public safety without unnecessarily curtailing rights, including the right to peaceful protest, or undermining fundamental legal principles. In this way, a Royal Commission can strengthen, rather than weaken, Australia’s legal and institutional frameworks.
For these reasons, the Law Council supports the establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission with sufficiently broad terms of reference to examine antisemitism in Australia, the events leading up to the Bondi terror attack, and any systemic, legislative or institutional issues requiring national attention and reform. The timing, conduct and terms of reference of any Royal Commission should be structured so as not to interfere with ongoing criminal proceedings.
The gravity of the circumstances demands a response that is independent, transparent and capable of strengthening Australia’s legal and institutional systems.
Australian Business Leaders
On December 14, 2025 the deadliest terrorist attack in Australia’s history took place at Bondi Beach.
Inspired by Islamic State, the terrorists targeted the celebration of the Jewish festival of lights, Chanukah, killing 15 innocent people, including a beautiful 10 year old girl, Matilda.
Since the horrific attack, the families of the victims have joined with a wide cross section of leaders, including those from the fields of law, national security and politics, to call publicly for a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism, radicalism and the events leading up to December 14.
This eminent group calling for a Commonwealth Royal Commission includes former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Robert French, who said that the Bondi attack has given rise to a “moral imperative” for action.
As business leaders and proud Australians committed to upholding our values of tolerance and mutual respect, we recognise the need for clear answers as to how the Bondi massacre could occur, and for practical solutions to restore social cohesion and protect the safety of all Australians. We must end the unprecedented harassment, intimidation and violence directed at the Australian Jewish community since October 7, 2023.
This is a national crisis, which requires a national response.
This goes beyond politics, it’s about the future of our country.
We call on the Australian Government to immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission as a first step towards taking Australia forward with a meaningful, practical plan of action.
Signatories:
Adam Geha, Adam Schwab, Adrienne E Clarke AC, Alan Schwartz AO, Alberto Calderon, Alex Vynokur, Alison Kitchen AM, Alison Watkins AM, Allan Vidor, Andrew Bassat, Andrew Bell, Andrew Pridham AO, Angus Aitken, Angus Dawson, Ann Whitelock, Anne Templeton Jones, Anthony Burgess, Anthony Eisen, Audette Exel AO, Avi Gilboa, Barry Carp, Ben Gray, Ben Pfisterer, Brett Paton, Bruce Buchanan, Cameron McIntyre, Carol Schwartz AO, Carolyn Barker AM, Chad Walker, Charles Goode AC, Chris Garnaut, Christine Christian AO, Christine Holman, Christine O’Reilly, Christopher Joye, Christopher Roberts AO, Colette Garnsey OAM, Con Frantzeskos, Daniel Minihan, Darryl Courtney-O’Connor AM, David Gallop AM, David Thodey AO, Dominic Yap, Elana Rubin AM, Fred Hilmer AO, Gary Pinshaw, Geoff Wilson AO, Glenn Stevens AC, Graham Bradley AM, Graham Goldsmith AO, Grant Hackett, Greg Shand, Guillaume Brahimi, Hamish McLennan, Hon James Merlino, Hon Jeff Kennett AC, Hon Josh Frydenberg, Ian James Watt AC, Ian Silk, Jack Zhang, James MacKenzie AO, James Packer, Janette Kendall, Jayne Hrdlicka, Jeffrey Browne, Jennifer Westacott AC, Jim Dominguez AO, John Hancock, John Harkness, John Knox, John Wylie AC, Jonathan Michael, Kee Wong, Kelly Bayer Rosmarin, Ken MacKenzie, Larry Diamond, Larry Kestelman, Leigh Clifford AO, Leon Zwier, Lindsay Maxsted, Mal McHutchison, Malcolm Broomhead AO, Mark Woodruff, Matt Wilson, Matthew Grounds AM, Maurice Newman AC, Michael Gutman OBE, Michael Heine, Michael Miller, Michael Stephenson, Michael Stutchbury, Michael Wachtel, Morris Symonds, Nicholas Moore AO, Nick Sims, Nigel Fitzgerald, Nora Scheinkestel, Olivia Wirth, Patrick Houlihan, Paul Bassat, Paul Howes, Paul McClintock AO, Paul O'Sullivan, Paula Dwyer, Peter Tonagh, Peter Yates AM, Phil Green, Philip Lowe, Phillip Wolanski, Rajeev Menon, Raphael and Fiona Geminder, Richard F E Warburton AO, Rob Coombe, Rob McGavin, Robert Millner, Robert Whyte, Robin Bishop, Ross McEwan, Ruslan Kogan, Russel Howcroft, Sally Herman OAM, Scott Perkins, Sid Myer, Simon Morrison, Simon Rothery, Simon Sheikh, Simone Carson AM, Steven Lowy AM, Suzi Carp AO, Sylvia Falzon, Tim Church, Tim Gurner, Tim Poole, Tony Berg, Trevor Loewensohn, Vik Bansel, Warwick Negus, Will Vicars.
Industry Groups
We, representatives of the major employers of Australia’s business community, support a federal Royal Commission into antisemitism and the tragic events at Bondi Beach on the evening of 14 December 2025.
As we return to work after the new year break, we must ensure that shock and grief do not turn into ongoing anger and division, particularly in our workplaces.
Workplaces are perhaps the greatest melting pots we have as a country, where people from truly diverse backgrounds come together to work for their common success. Our workplaces are therefore deeply representative of the communities found across our nation, and it follows that we must strive for them to be inclusive.
Without sustainably safe and cohesive workplaces and communities, we cannot deliver prosperity for all Australians, which is the ultimate objective underpinning the advocacy and efforts of our organisations.
A federal Royal Commission can help us learn and understand what happened, what needs to be done differently and bring us together in the shared goal of preventing future tragedy.
A federal approach to a Royal Commission would avoid some of the limitations of a state-based approach and help ensure we bring a whole-of-nation focus to tackling antisemitism.
Importantly, the findings and recommendations of such a commission could build on the useful steps already taken by Federal, state and territory governments around the country.
This includes incorporating and building on the findings of the inquiry initiated by the Federal Government headed by Dennis Richardson into the operation of Australia’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies leading up to the Bondi Beach shootings.
Australia is not alone in having faced growth in antisemitism. Ultimately, we hope a federal Royal Commission would send a signal to the world that Australia is committed to providing safe and inclusive communities, and intends to lead in overcoming antisemitism. In turn, this signal would help ensure Australia remains a beacon for capital and talent from around the globe, and the best country in which to live, work and raise a family.
For these reasons, we support a Royal Commission, with appropriate terms of reference, that integrates with state efforts and has a clear reporting date or dates, to be called as soon as possible.
Signatories:
Australian Banking Association, Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian Industry Group, Australian Retailers Association, Business Council of Australia, Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, Insurance Council of Australia, Master Builders Australia and Minerals Council of Australia.
National Security and Defence Leaders
Antisemitism and Islamist extremism pose serious national security challenges for Australia. They fracture social cohesion, fuel violence, and weaken our national resilience.
At a time of growing risk of international conflict, antisemitism has already exposed Australia to foreign interference from hostile states and extremist groups.
After the Bondi atrocity we call on the Albanese government to immediately establish a Federal Royal Commission into antisemitism and Islamist extremism. The Royal Commission must have the authority to inquire into all aspects of the rise of antisemitism in Australia following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
A Federal Royal Commission will help unify the country around seeking solutions, moving beyond recrimination and find a better way forward.
A Federal Royal Commission could be conducted quickly, could complement State-level inquiries, would have the powers to handle sensitive security issues and would not slow down necessary policy and administrative reforms.
We think an inquiry must have the scope to address government-level decision-making, consider social, educational and institutional frameworks and recommend necessary budget and policy reform.
A properly constituted and empowered inquiry would have to examine the actions of the Government itself, including its ministers, in the aftermath of the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, and in the wake of the elevation of the National Terrorism Threat Level on 5 August 2024. It would have to examine resourcing levels and specific actions taken in the wake of the change in the Threat Level.
The Australian Jewish community produced one of our greatest military and national leaders, Sir John Monash. Sadly, Monash experienced antisemitism during much of his life. In his spirit, we say this is a time for courage, clear sighted leadership and action.
As former senior leaders in defence and security, we urge Prime Minister Albanese to take decisive action, strengthen national security and bring Australians together.
Establishing a Federal Royal Commission into antisemitism and Islamist extremism is a vital step to help Australia overcome these serious challenges.
The Prime Minister should act immediately.
Signatories:
Marc Ablong PSM, James Allen APM, Lieutenant General Gregory Bilton AO CSC, Rear Admiral Peter Briggs AO OAM CSC, Air Marshal Geoffrey Brown AO, Lieutenant General Rick Burr AO DSC MVO, Major General Elizabeth Cosson AM CSC, Air Marshal Gavin “Leo” Davies AO CSC, Major General Professor Adam Findlay AO, Simeon Gilding, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie AC DSC CSM, Air Marshal Darren Goldie AM CSC, General David Hurley AC CVO DSC, Peter Jennings AO PSM, Michael Keelty, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AC, Major General Maurie McNarn AO, Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt AO, Major General Roger Noble AO DSC CSC, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO, Assistant Commissioner Peter Parsons APM NPM, Michael Pezzullo, Air Marshal Douglas Riding AO DFC, Vice Admiral Christopher Ritchie AO, Major General Mick Ryan AM, Vice Admiral David Shackleton AO, Air Marshal Geoffrey Shepherd AO, Rex Stevenson AO, Major General Paul Symon AO, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas AO CSC, Air Vice-Marshal Brian Weston AM, Dr Alex Zelinsky AO.
The Coalition
The Coalition today calls on the Prime Minister to establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the Bondi terrorist attack and the national antisemitism crisis, and is releasing detailed Terms of Reference to enable it to be established without delay.
The horror at Bondi was not an isolated act. It was the catastrophic consequence of a national failure to confront rising antisemitism, violent extremism and repeated warnings from our security agencies.
Australians deserve the truth about how this was allowed to happen, and they deserve accountability at the highest levels of government.
A state-based inquiry, while appropriate within its limits, cannot examine Commonwealth responsibilities, national security failures, migration and visa settings, intelligence coordination, or the actions and inaction of federal institutions.
The Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley said only a Commonwealth Royal Commission has the power, scope and authority to examine the full picture.
“This is about truth, accountability and keeping Australians safe,” the Leader of the Opposition said.
“In response to the horror at Bondi, the Prime Minister has announced proposals which are too little, too late and will take far too long.
“Last night at the vigil at Bondi the Jewish community made a clear call for a Royal Commission, we should listen to that call and we should.
“As a constructive Opposition, we have consulted carefully and drafted these terms of reference for a Commonwealth Royal Commission.
“I am willing to sit down with the Prime Minister immediately, to refine and finalise these terms of reference, so a Royal Commission can be established before Christmas.”
The purpose of this Royal Commission is to uncover how antisemitism was allowed to escalate, how warnings were missed or ignored, and whether existing laws, institutions and funding arrangements failed to protect Australians.
“If the Prime Minister does not confront the causes of the Bondi massacre with honesty and resolve, the victims of this terrorist attack and their families will be denied the justice they deserve,” the Opposition Leader said.
“Bondi is what happens when hate is tolerated and warnings are ignored.
“A state inquiry is fine but insufficient, only a Commonwealth Royal Commission can deliver real accountability.
“This Commonwealth Royal Commission will shine light into every dark corner where antisemitism has been allowed to fester and grow.
“Nothing is off limits. No institution is beyond scrutiny. Antisemitism is not a state problem. It is a national failure. That is why this inquiry looks across every level of government and every part of civil society.”
The Prime Minister cannot continue to argue that a national tragedy can be investigated with a limited response.
“You cannot investigate a national failure with a state-sized response,” the Opposition Leader said.
“This Prime Minister has the power that he has always had, to act on antisemitism. We call on him now, to summon the purpose the nation is demanding.
The Coalition stands ready to work immediately with the Government to establish this Royal Commission and ensure Australians receive the answers, accountability and reform they deserve.
Teals
Dear Prime Minister,
Re: Additional responses to Bondi Terrorist Attack
We are shocked and dismayed following last Sunday’s horrific antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach.
We express our deepest sympathies for the Jewish community, and our sincere commitment to work across parliament to combat antisemitism and ensure that Australia is, once again, a safe and welcoming place for Jewish Australians.
While we welcome your government’s actions and commitments in the wake of the attack, we remain concerned that the measures proposed to date will not adequately address antisemitism in the community.
Only a federal Royal Commission will have the power to comprehensively and independently investigate the circumstances leading to, and authorities’ response to, the attacks, and examine actions and coordination across all levels of government.
And while we acknowledge the Government’s additional commitments to combat hate speech, we believe we need a national approach to it, and suggest that the Western Australian criminal code has demonstrated – over more than 20 years – sufficient nuance as to not unduly encroach on freedom of speech. We strongly urge you to consider implementing the Member for Wentworth’s amendments to the Federal Criminal Code.
These extend the definition of hate speech to include incitement of hatred, in addition to violence. These amendments were designed in consultation with key groups including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and Equality Australia.
Finally, we urge you to significantly increase funding for the immediate and ongoing security needs of Jewish organisations. While we await outcomes of investigations into the recent incident, we must ensure that vulnerable community members are safe and secure.
We therefore urge you to announce a federal Royal Commission into the recent terrorist attack, to update Australia’s national Criminal Code as previously proposed by the Member for Wentworth, and to provide additional funding to ensure the safety of the Australian Jewish community.
Australia has been the most successful multicultural country in the world. It can be again – but we must ensure that all our communities can practice their culture, traditions and beliefs in safety, and free from persecution.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Monique Ryan MP, Kate Chaney MP, Dr Sophie Scamps MP, Zali Steggall OAM MP
Former Labor Ministers & MPs
The government must call a royal commission into the causes of the Bondi Beach massacre, the broader ecosystem of terror and hate and the capacity of the agencies to monitor terrorist threats.
We commend NSW Premier Chris Minns for calling a NSW royal commission but such a commission cannot compel institutions and individuals beyond its jurisdiction to give evidence or provide Commonwealth officers with the necessary legal protection to speak frankly.
Only a Commonwealth royal commission can unpack the dynamics of Jew hatred including aspects such as the social media threat, how hate and incitement is weaponised in Australia and how we can come together across the nation to defeat it.
20 former Labor Ministers, MPs and Senators, including Mike Kelly, Bernie Ripoll, Michael Danby, Walt Secord, Michael Costa, Eric Roozendaal and Nova Peris.
Australian Health and Research Sector Leaders
On 14 December 2025, Australia experienced the deadliest terrorist attack in its history at Bondi Beach. Fifteen innocent people were killed while celebrating Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights — a joyous occasion turned into an act of devastating violence.
Since 7 October 2023 there was a clear and troubling escalation in antisemitic incidents across Australia leading up to the Bondi massacre. These incidents did not occur in isolation and formed a pattern that included threats, intimidation, exclusion, and violence directed at Jewish Australians.
We are Australians who work across the health system as clinicians, researchers, business leaders, educators and policy leaders focussed on caring for people, preventing harm, and improving lives and we believe the nation deserves clear answers as to how the Bondi massacre could occur. It also deserves practical solutions to restore social cohesion and protect the safety of all Australians.
For these reasons, we call on the Australian Government to immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission to examine the events leading up to the Bondi massacre and the broader conditions in which it occurred. Only a Royal Commission has the independence, authority, and scope required to conduct a comprehensive transparent inquiry and deliver a meaningful plan of action.
This is not a political issue. It is a moral one. Anything less would fall short of what is owed to those who lost their lives — and to the safety of all Australians.
Australian Sporting Champions
On 14 December 2025, the deadliest terrorist attack in Australia’s history took place at the iconic Bondi Beach.
As Australians who have had the honour of playing and coaching our sport at the highest level including representing our nation with pride, integrity and dignity, we extend our deepest sympathy to the families who lost fifteen loved ones in this atrocity - including 10 year old Matilda, whose smile we will never forget.
Since this horrific attack, a wide cross-section of Australian leaders - including those from law, national security, business and public service - have joined with the victims families to publicly call for a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism, radicalisation and the events that led to 14 December.
This attack did not occur in isolation. It followed more than two years of escalating extremism, intimidation and unchecked radicalisation within Australia. What unfolded at Bondi was an act of terrorism driven by violent extremist ideology, and its consequences have shaken the foundations of our national safety and social cohesion.
As sports leaders, past and present, we have witnessed firsthand the power of sport to unite Australians of every background, belief and community. Across generations, we have stood for fairness, respect, equality and the principle that every Australian - no matter who they are - deserves safety, dignity and the freedom to live without fear.
Today, we cannot remain silent. This is not who we are.
This is not the Australia we represented.
As sporting leaders, we understand that leadership matters, especially when values are tested. We call on the Prime Minister and the Australian Government to show decisive national leadership by confronting extremism and terrorism in all its forms, without fear or hesitation.
We must also put an end to the unprecedented harassment, intimidation and violence that has been directed at the Australian Jewish community since October 7, 2023.
This is a national crisis, and it demands a national response.
This is bigger than politics.
It is about the character of our country and the Australia we want future generations to inherit.
With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games approaching, the eyes of the world will soon be upon Australia. The safety of our citizens, the integrity of our public spaces, and the values we project as a nation have never mattered more.
We call on the Australian Government to immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism, radicalisation and the events leading up to the Bondi massacre as well as take other immediate action to protect the public.
A Royal Commission is the most credible and unifying pathway to understanding what went wrong, ensuring accountability, restoring social harmony and taking Australia forward with a meaningful, practical plan of action.
As Australians who have long championed unity and national pride - on the field and beyond it - we implore our leaders to act with urgency and moral clarity.
The safety of Australians, and the future cohesion of our nation, depends on it.
Signatories:
John Alexander OAM, Peter Antonie OAM, Luke Beveridge, Raelene Boyle AM, MBE,
Steve Bradbury OAM, Wayne Carey, Emma Carney, Michael Clarke AO, Alistair Clarkson, Denis Cotterell, David Crawshay OAM, Rob de Castella AO, MBE, Robert Dipierdomenico, Louise Dobson OAM, Mick Doohan, Josh Eagle, John Eales AM, Chris Fagan, Mick Fanning AO, Jess Fox OAM, Dawn Fraser AC MBE, Richard Fromberg, Drew Ginn OAM, Grant Hackett OAM, Shane Heal, Gerard Healy, Greg Healy, Andrew Hoy OAM, Chris Judd, Phil Kearns AM, John Kennedy Jr, Michael Klim OAM, Anthony Koutoufides, John Longmire, Ross Lyon, Russell Mark OAM, Susie Maroney OAM, Leigh Matthews, Cam McEvoy OAM, Robbie McEwen AM, Mike McKay OAM, Anthony Minichiello, Michelle Mitchell OAM, Jenny Morris OAM, Sam Newman, Sally Pearson OAM, Scott Pendlebury, Nova Peris OAM, Pat Rafter AM,
Clint Robinson OAM, Rohan Robinson, Danni Roche OAM, Ken Roche AO, Steve Solomon, Renee Stubbs, Stacey Taurima, Andrew Thompson, Ian Thorpe AM,
James Tomkins OAM, David Wansbrough OAM, Gai Waterhouse AO, Grant Wharrington, Greg ‘Diesel’ Williams
Bondi terror attack victims’ families
I am writing to you as the daughter of Reuven Morrison, who was murdered in the Bondi Beach Chanukkah Massacre.
Nothing can adequately convey the devastation that my family, and the families of the other victims, continue to live with every day. Our lives were irrevocably changed by an act of violence that has left deep scars not only on us personally, but on the broader Australian community.
Together with the other families who lost loved ones in the Bondi attack, we are seeking to meet you in Canberra to ask for your support for the establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the causes and circumstances that led to the event, with an emphasis on antisemitism in Australia.
In particular, we believe there is a compelling public interest in ensuring that all contributing factors are properly examined. Only a Royal Commission has the scope, independence and authority necessary to provide the Australian public with confidence that the full truth has been uncovered and that meaningful lessons will be learned.
Our request is not driven by politics, but by grief, responsibility and a desire to ensure that no other families endure what ours has endured. We believe that a thorough national inquiry is essential not only for accountability, but for community safety, social cohesion and trust in our institutions.
We would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with you in the first sitting week of Parliament in 2026. We will be in Canberra on February 3 and 4 and are able to meet at your convenience to share our perspectives directly and to discuss how the federal Parliamentarians can play a leadership role in responding to this tragedy.
Thank you for considering this request. I hope you will agree that the voices of the victims’ families deserve to be heard.
Yours sincerely,
Sheina Gutnick
Daughter of Reuven Morrison
Katrina Dawson’s family
We are appalled that the prime minister, seeking to avoid a much-needed royal commission into antisemitism and Islamic extremism, would say that we don’t need a royal commission because there wasn’t one into the Lindt siege.
The Lindt siege, as horrible as it was, was one devastating incident. The Bondi massacre is just the latest of so many attacks on Jewish Australians that have taken place over the last two years and two months. And there are now more anti-Jewish demonstrations taking place. Our country has become divided, and we must do everything possible to heal that division.
Sandy, Jane and Angus Dawson – the parents and brother of barrister Katrina Dawson, who was killed in the Lindt Cafe terror attack.
Bondi Response
We, a group of concerned Australians from diverse backgrounds, are heartbroken and outraged by the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on December 14 - a deliberate antisemitic assault that targeted families and children gathered for Chanukah by the Sea to celebrate the first night of Chanukah.
We call on the Federal Government to establish a Federal Royal Commission into the events leading up to the Bondi attack as the most credible, unifying and transparent way to investigate these issues.
Fifteen innocent lives were lost, including a 10-year-old girl, two beloved rabbis, and a Holocaust survivor. Dozens more were injured in what was meant to be a joyful celebration of light, community, and hope.
This was not random violence. It was an act of pure hate directed at the Jewish community- an attack on the very fabric of our multicultural, inclusive Australia.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims' families, the injured, the brave first responders, and the entire Jewish community enduring this unimaginable pain. You are not alone. We stand firmly with you in sorrow, solidarity, and resolve.
Words of condolence are important, but they are not enough. With antisemitism rising sharply in recent years and repeated warnings going unheeded, this tragedy demands urgent, unified political leadership: stronger measures to combat hate, enhanced security for vulnerable communities, and decisive action to root out all forms of extremism.
Multiculturalism works when people are encouraged to bring the best of their culture - while leaving violence, hatred, discrimination, and extremism behind. Protecting social cohesion is essential to protect what makes Australia special.
A Royal Commission would provide the best chance of developing practical solutions to move our country forward. It would also send a clear signal that Australia rejects hate and the forces that threaten its social cohesion.
This is a national crisis, and it demands a national response at the highest level.
Signed by more than 3,000 Australians including Geoff Wilson, Brad Banducci, Paul Bassat and Joe Gersh. The full list of signatories can be found here.
ECAJ and State/Territory-based Jewish roof organisations
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, together with the Jewish roof organisations in each State and Territory, call for a Federal Royal Commission into antisemitism.
The data that the ECAJ collates, shows that antisemitic incidents in this country have increased exponentially from pre‑7 October 2023 levels.
Those incidents have become increasingly violent, culminating in the attack at Bondi Beach.
Over the last two years, we have issued repeated warnings to government about increasing Jew hatred in this country, and the social permissiveness that has been allowed to grow resulting in further attacks.
It is critical that government and society understand the sources of antisemitism especially in the last two years, and how Australia arrived at its present position where hatred of one ethnic and religious minority has become so extraordinarily rampant.
Only a Federal Royal Commission encompassing the nation as a whole, would provide that process.
We have watched with increasing dismay as the Federal Government has resisted calls from all sectors of society for a Federal Royal Commission.
We believe that as many have already noted, the arguments against such a Royal Commission not only are unconvincing and misconceived, but perhaps more importantly deny the urgent need to tackle the evil of antisemitism in the interests of unity and social cohesion in Australia.
We have been heartened by the outpouring of support from the Australian public and, and the calls from so many sectors of society, for a Federal Royal Commission. Australians are demanding accountability and healing. It is time for the Federal Government to listen to the people.
Signatories:
Daniel Aghion KC - President, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, David Ossip - President, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Athol Morris - President, ACT Jewish Community, Philip Zajac - President, Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Annetay Henderson-Sapir - President, Jewish Community Council of South Australia, Micheal Levitt AM - President, Jewish Community Council of Western Australia, Peter Kirby - President, Hobart Hebrew Congregation, Vida Goodvach - President, Northern Territory Jewish Community Association, Jason Steinberg - President, Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies.
AIJAC, ZFA and National Jewish and Communal Organisations
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), Zionism Victoria, the State Zionist Council of NSW, the State Zionist Council of QLD, the State Zionist Council of South Australia, the State Zionist Council of WA, the ACT Zionist Council, the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, Women's International Zionist Organisation Australia, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students, the Rabbinical Council of Australia, the Rabbinical Council of NSW, the Rabbinical Council of Victoria, the Australasian Zionist Youth Council, and the Union for Progressive Judaism today issue this unified and urgent call for the establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission into Antisemitism.
We express our profound sorrow at the loss of innocent life in the Bondi terror attack. This appalling act of violence has devastated families and shaken the broader Jewish and Australian communities. Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones and all those affected.
This tragedy has occurred against the backdrop of an unprecedented surge in antisemitism across Australia. For more than two years since 7 October 2023, and with increasing urgency, our organisations have consistently warned that escalating antisemitic incitement and activity across streets, campuses, online spaces and elsewhere would have serious and dangerous consequences. This attack underscores the real-world impact of a climate in which hatred, intimidation and violence have been allowed to proliferate.
We acknowledge and welcome recent actions taken by Commonwealth and State Governments, including the NSW Royal Commission, the adoption of recommendations from the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, increased security funding for Jewish facilities, and legislative measures to criminalise prohibited symbols and strengthen hate crime laws.
Yet, these steps, while important, are not sufficient.
The announcement of the Richardson review into our national security and intelligence apparatus is indeed important and is being conducted by a figure of impeccable credentials. However, we strongly believe that this review will have no investigative remit to identify and expose the root causes of systemic antisemitism in Australia and is far from mutually exclusive with a needed Commonwealth Royal Commission.
In short, while commendably designed to minimise harm to the Jewish community, these steps do not tackle the underlying causes of the explosion and normalisation of antisemitic hatred in Australian society.
Antisemitism in Australia is no longer sporadic or peripheral. It is systemic and entrenched and demands a national response commensurate with the threat it poses to public safety and social cohesion.
We the undersigned national Jewish and communal organisations therefore again call directly on the Prime Minister to reconsider and exercise national leadership by establishing a Commonwealth Royal Commission into Antisemitism.
Don't Australians deserve to know not just what happened, but why it happened?
Without knowing the truth behind this massacre, how can any Australians feel truly safe, and how can we make sure it does not happen again?
As the bereaved families of the Bondi victims said in their heartfelt call for a Royal Commission, those we have lost cannot be brought back, but a well-led Royal Commission and strong action may be able to save many more.
As the highest form of public inquiry, a Royal Commission must be empowered to examine the drivers and enablers of antisemitism in Australia; assess institutional failures across education, public administration and civil society; evaluate the effectiveness of law enforcement and judicial responses to antisemitic hate speech and incitement; and identify sources of funding and influence that sustain extremist ideologies.
We would welcome the opportunity to be consulted before the Government takes any decision regarding its terms of reference and composition.
Jewish Australians are not seeking special treatment. We are seeking the fundamental right to live without fear. The time for incremental measures alone has passed. This moment requires clarity, resolve and decisive action. A Commonwealth Royal Commission into Antisemitism, together with other immediate Federal and State measures, is now essential to safeguard Australia's democratic values and social cohesion.
Signatories:
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, Women's International Zionist Organisation Australia, Australasian Union of Jewish Students, Australasian Zionist Youth Council, Union for Progressive Judaism, Rabbinical Council of Australia, Rabbinical Council of Victoria, Rabbinical Council of NSW, Zionism Victoria, State Zionist Council of NSW, State Zionist Council of QLD, State Zionist Council of South Australia, State Zionist Council of WA, ACT Zionist Council.
Major Cultural and Faith Organisations
Dear Prime Minister,
We, the undersigned, represent major cultural and faith communities across Australia.
Together, we mourn the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, which claimed 15 innocent lives.
The attack targeted Jewish Australians for practicing their faith, as they celebrated the festival of Chanukah.
An attack on the Jewish community is an attack on all cultural and faith communities.
Following one of the darkest and most confronting attacks in our nation’s history, Australia must respond with seriousness equal to the moment.
We call on the Commonwealth Government to establish a Federal Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack and the rise of antisemitism in Australia.
A Federal Royal Commission must investigate the origins and enabling conditions that made this fatal antisemitic attack possible.
We believe in a multicultural Australia where all Australians, regardless of ethnicity or religion, can live free from the threat of violence.
We cannot afford to wait for another attack. The safety of all our communities, and the integrity of Australia’s social fabric, demands a full inquiry.
If Australia is to remain the most successful multicultural society in the world, Australians deserve to live in a country that protects them and their way of life.
We stand united in calling for national leadership and decisive action. A Commonwealth Royal Commission is essential to ensure that no others experience what the victims and their families have suffered.
We are not safe in this country unless all of us are safe.
Signatories:
Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia, Australian Multicultural Foundation, Australian Cohesion Forum, Ethnic Communities' Council of NSW, Queensland Faith Communities Council, Australian Christian Churches, Hindu Council of Australia, Australian United Solidarity for Iran (AUSIRAN), Assyrian National Council - Australia, The Greek-Australian Society, Armenian National Committee of Australia, African Australian Advocacy Centre (AAAC), Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS), Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Association to Defend Freedom & Human Rights in Iran - Australia, Iranian Women's Association, National Sikh Council of Australia Inc, Multicultural Network for the Prevention of Harmful Practices Australia Inc, Ukrainian Women's Association Australia, Ghanaian Australian Women Association, Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV), Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson), Te Mātaioho Limited, Coffs Coast Multicultural Society (CCMS), Assyrian Supreme Council, The Young Assyrians, African Australian Council ACT, Catholic Schools NSW, Ezidi Sun Association for Culture and Social Heritage Inc, Hindu Council of Australia Western Australia, Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland Inc, Federation of Indian Associations in Victoria, Turbans 4 Australia Inc, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) Australia, Australian Bharatiya Brahman Samaj (ABBS), Hindu Education and Cultural Centre Ltd, Vedanta Centre of Sydney (Brisbane Chapter), Vishva Hindu Parishad of Australia Inc. (SA), Tamil Society NT, Sydney Jain Mandal Inc, Canberra Jain Mandal, St Theordore's Anglican Church, Slavic Baptist Church, NSW Presbyterian Church, St Peter's Cathedral Adelaide, African Womens Group, Somali Support Perth, Divinity Foundation Ltd, Porgera Red Wara (River) Women's Association (PRWWA Inc), Radiant Rise.
Australian Hindu Association
Australian Hindus support the establishment of a commonwealth royal commission into the Bondi terror attack and the scourge of terrorism in Australia.
The Bondi tragedy, where 15 innocent Australians celebrating the Jewish festival of Chanukah were killed, was the worst terror attack in Australia’s history.
An act of such extreme evil, and indeed any act of terror, must not be allowed to happen again on our soil.
Only a federal royal commission can effectively investigate how the two terrorists were able to plan and execute their dastardly acts of terror without detection; and make appropriate recommendations as to the measures necessary to avoid a repeat of December 14, 2025.
We therefore call upon the Australian government to take immediate steps to establish a royal commission into the Bondi massacre and the risks of terrorism in Australia, the terms of reference of which should include the following:
What were the intelligence and security shortcomings that allowed the Bondi terror attack to be executed?
What are the risks of a further terror attack in Australia?
How rampant is antisemitism and racism against other communities in Australia?
What role do religious leaders, places of worship, educational institutions (including dedicated religious spaces in institutions), social media and influencers play in breeding racism and radicalisation?
What mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that migrants and temporary visitors to Australia are properly screened for terror links?
What steps the federal and state governments, and relevant government agencies, need to take to minimise the risk of a further terror attack in Australia?
What type of exchange of information and co-operation is necessary between federal and state bodies as well as with international sources to monitor the risk of terror?
Christian Leaders
Dear Prime Minister,
We, the undersigned Christian church, organisational, business and community leaders (and those who will adopt this letter), leading diverse denominations and communities across Australia, write to you in a spirit of profound concern, with deep respect for the responsibilities you carry, and a shared sense of national duty and national responsibility. The horror that occurred in Bondi is an attack on our nation’s common Judeo-Christian heritage and core democratic principles.
As stewards of faith and advocates for justice, compassion, and reconciliation, we humbly appeal for the establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism and the tragic Bondi Beach massacre of December 14, 2025. This devastating event, which claimed fifteen lives and injured forty others during what should have been a peaceful and joyous Hanukkah celebration, has inflicted deep wounds upon our Jewish brothers and sisters, our broader society, and the very fabric of our nation.
The attack followed a sustained and deeply troubling rise in antisemitism across Australia, particularly since the atrocities of 7 October 2023, the deadliest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. As Christian leaders, we are compelled to make this appeal now because history has taught us over and over again that silence and inaction in the face of rising hatred leads to tragic consequences. We need determined effort to deal with the growing evil of antisemitism and anti-Zionism to improve social cohesion.
As you are aware, in the preamble to the Australian Constitution, our forebears declared their commitment to unite "humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God." This foundational acknowledgment reflects a collective aspiration for a Commonwealth guided by divine wisdom, moral integrity, and the pursuit of truth in the face of adversity. It is in this same spirit that we urge a comprehensive inquiry - not only as a procedural response, but as an act of national humility, seeking God's guidance to uncover systemic failures, foster genuine healing and cohesion, and finally address thisancient hatred which has taken hold in our nation and echoes the darkest chapters in history.
By convening a Commonwealth Royal Commission, your government would honour the constitutional ethos of reliance on Almighty God, promoting justice that aligns with biblical principles of truth-seeking and care for the afflicted.
Only a Commonwealth Royal Commission would provide the necessary independence and authority to examine the wide breadth of critical issues underpinning the scourge of antisemitism in Australia, including intelligence coordination, preventive measures against extremism, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
Historical precedents, such as the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, demonstrate how such inquiries can drive meaningful reforms, restore public trust, provide justice for victims, and prevent future tragedies.
Compelling reasons for the establishment of a Commonwealth Royal Commission have already been powerfully articulated by victims’ families; over 170 eminent legal
professionals; Jewish leaders and sixteen representative bodies and roof organisations including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, NSW Board of Deputies, Rabbinical Association of Australasia and Zionist Federation of Australia; former security and intelligence officials; former Chief Justice Robert French; the Australian Human Rights Commissioner; Australian business and sporting leaders; multiple online petitions; and a diverse group of past and present political leaders from across the political spectrum.
We now add our voices to this call.
As Christian leaders we offer three main reasons which are complementary to those already advanced.
1. Pursuit of Justice and Truth
From a Christian perspective, a Commonwealth Royal Commission is essential to uncover the systemic failures that enabled the Bondi Beach massacre, aligning with the biblical imperative to seek justice and truth.
2. Compassion for the AClicted and Vulnerable
A Commonwealth Royal Commission would be an essential act of compassion toward the victims’ families and the Jewish community, which endured profound loss leading up to and during a peaceful Hanukkah celebration.
Biblical principles urge defending the oppressed and speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves, making it imperative to address the escalating threats of extremism and hatred that targeted our Jewish community. This process would help to provide closure, support redress, and foster protective measures, embodying Christ’s example of empathy and care for the suffering.
3. Promotion of National Healing and Reconciliation
A Commonwealth Royal Commission would facilitate national healing by bridging societal divisions and promoting reconciliation, consistent with Christian teachings on unity and peace. In the aftermath of this attack, which has deepened grief and division, a Commonwealth Royal Commission could restore public trust, strengthen socialcohesion, and reaffirm shared values based on our Judeo-Christian foundations which our Constitution was established.
We owe the Jewish people an immeasurable debt, including the very roots of our faith and the moral inheritance of our Judeo-Christian civilisation.
We acknowledge with humility and repentance that despite this truth, much of the Church remained silent in the face of the Holocaust and centuries of active Christian anti-Judaism leading up to it. We are determined not to repeat these same mistakes again, which is why we are speaking out now.
We also commit to praying fervently for our government leaders, as we are called to do, and to encourage others to do likewise. We desire to work with you to dramatically alter the trajectory of our beloved nation. This is an opportunity to work together to strengthen our nation's resilience, bridge divisions and reaWirm our shared Judeo-Christian values.
We must now protect, make structural reforms, better prepare and defend our wounded nation. We stand with the Jewish community leaders and call for a Commonwealth Royal Commission. Our great Australian ANZACs would expect no less, for they served and died to protect our civilisation and our great nation.
Given the compelling reasons for a Commonwealth Royal Commission, the mounting voices across the nation calling for one, and the dangers of inaction which history has borne out, we urge you to commence the process of establishing a Commonwealth Royal Commission, while also implementing all other measures currently available.
Doing so will ensure that the lessons from this tragic event contribute to a safer, more unified Australia.
Yours in faith and service,
Organisations endorsing this letter:
• Bridges for Peace; Matthew Chivers – National Director Australia
• Christian Friends of Israeli Communities (CFOIC); Pam Culpitt – Australian Representative
• Christians for Israel (C4I); Ian Worby - National Chairman
• International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ Australia); Sarah Way - National Director
• Kingdom Builders; John Lockwood – Chief Executive OWicer
• Never Again Is Now (NAIN); Mark Leach – Co-Founder
Also signed by more than 360 Christian Church leaders.