Aussie sport legends call for Royal Commission
The latest open letter calling for a federal Royal Commission into antisemitism was signed by leaders in sport
Sixty-nine of Australia’s most well-known sportspeople – including Olympians Jess Fox, Steve Solomon, Jemima Montag, Nova Peris, Ian Thorpe, Dawn Fraser, Grant Hackett, Cam McEvoy, Michael Klim, and Sally Pearson – signed an open letter released on January 4, that calls on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to “immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism, radicalisation, and the events leading up to the [December 14] Bondi Beach massacre”.
Signatories also included tennis legends Lleyton Hewitt, Pat Rafter and John Alexander, NRL superstars Brad Fittler and Anthony Minichiello, AFL heavyweights Anthony Koutoufides and Wayne Carey, former Wallabies captains John Eales and Phil Kearns, surfer Mick Fanning, and former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke.
It was the latest in a series of recent open letters calling for a Royal Commission, including one signed by the families of 11 Jewish victims of the Bondi Beach ‘Chanukah at the Sea’ terror attack, another signed by 100 Australian business leaders, and another by 200 lawyers and judges.
Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, has also called for a Royal Commission.
The open letter signed by leaders in Australian sport began with, “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.”
Key points made in the open letter include that the terror 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.
“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.”
The open letter also mentioned with the countdown to Brisbane hosting the 2032 summer Olympic Games, “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.”
In a press conference about the open letter, held near Bondi Pavilion, Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser said, “To you Anthony Albanese, Tony Burke, Penny Wong – come down off your high horse and stop trying to run for cover.
“If the Jewish community is calling for a royal commission, then do the right thing by this community that has suffered enough.
“I’m so very sorry for my country and its leaders not protecting each and every one of you, and your families.
“In the 88 years of my life, living, loving and representing this truly great country, I have never seen so much hate and division, and this breaks my heart.
“This is not a gun problem, this is not a one-off problem – this is an antisemitism problem, and it has been building and building.”
Nova Peris said, “Australians are now fearful, and that fear is not imagined, it is grounded.
“A royal commission is not about blame, it is about truth . . . to establish the facts.
“If we fail to investigate with a royal commission now – honestly, rigorously and without fear – we’ll risk investigating funerals once again.”
Steve Solomon said that “something that comes very naturally to those who wear the Green & Gold is to take on feedback, to learn from it, to get better, and to improve”, and this is what the government should do now by calling a royal commission.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said, “To every athlete that signed this letter, thank you, but your intervention should not have been necessary.
“It should have been enough for the government to see the need for a royal commission when 15 of our people were slaughtered within metres from here, for the crime of being Jewish.
“I ask again, to the prime minister and to this government, do not put the families through even greater trauma and suffering.
“Do what needs to be done and call this royal commission, so we can have answers as to how these horrors transpired, and how we can prevent them from ever happening again.”
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